THE Bishop of Jarrow is keeping history buffs in the North-East well and truly in the dark in the run-up to a forthcoming lecture.

The Right Reverend Alan Smithson is preparing to give a lecture to hundreds of members of the North-East branch of the Wesley Historical Society.

But the title of his lecture, which is expected to be an overview of the Church at the turn of the Millennium, has left many members baffled.

He has called it Rainbows and Sacred Cows, and has remained tight-lipped over what the title means.

Geoffrey Milburn, a retired history lecturer from Sunderland and editor of the society's Branch Bulletin, said the lecture should attract a good audience.

He said: "Normally, our lectures have a historical emphasis but on this occasion we invited the bishop to set the present in context and look ahead as well.

"His title has us all intrigued and we are eagerly looking forward to hearing what he has to say."

The North-East branch of the society, which has 200 members, was formed more than 50 years ago and organises two major lectures every year.

The Bishop of Jarrow's lecture was due to take place in the Methodist Chapel, in Newbiggin-in-Teesdale, but the venue was changed because of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

It will now take place in the Methodist Church, in Barnard Castle, at 3pm, on Saturday.