ANGLICANS and Methodists at Cowcliffe joined together to celebrate a Christian tradition.

Members of St Hilda's Church welcomed members of Cowcliffe Methodist Church for an Agape (fellowship) meal.

Organiser Mrs Chris Philip said: "Agape is a meal set in the course of an act of worship.

"We were enacting a 2,000-year-old tradition, started when persecuted early Christians met at people's houses and share a meal. They told the story of Jesus and enacted The Last Supper."

Fifty people shared the meal, plus readings, hymns and prayers and communion led by St Hilda's vicar the Rev Mark Umpleby and Cowcliffe Methodist minister the Rev Philip Bee.

The two churches have a long history of collaboration, which ties in with a recent national agreement between Anglican and Methodist leaders to work together.

St Hilda's church- warden John Philip, Mrs Philip's husband, said: "The agreement could not have come a minute too soon.

"Here in Cowcliffe we are showing the way for churches to unite.

"Like early Christians, we are under threat from the multitude of forces - but now the most potent are apathy and indifference.

"Our unity here would give us a much-needed boost," he added.