Hundreds celebrate birth of Church (From Sutton Guardian)

Hundreds celebrate birth of Church

4:40pm Saturday 26th May 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

More than 1,000 people have celebrated the birth of the Christian Church with the Archbishop of York in one of the north of England's best known landmarks.

The Archbishop, Dr John Sentamu, was joined by the Bishop of Whitby, the Rt Rev Dr Martin Warner, for the Pentecost service in the ruins of Whitby Abbey.

It is believed to be the first time an archbishop and a bishop have jointly hosted a service at the abbey since its destruction in The Reformation.

Whitby Abbey is perched on a hill looking over the North Yorkshire seaside town and features on countless tourist images of the region.

The archbishop arrived in the harbour below in the RNLI Trent-class lifeboat, George and Mary Webb.

He was then joined by representatives from Cleveland churches for a walk up the 199 steps from the quayside to the abbey.

Many carried banners specially made for the service.

Hundreds of people who gathered for the special service in the abbey ruins were also entertained with music and art and crafts workshops.