BRAMHOPE churches are planning events to involve the whole community to celebrate the turn of the millennium, including a special midsummer party for the village.

The Rev David Robinson, vicar of St Giles Church at Bramhope, visited a meeting of the village parish council to discuss the events which are set to involve both St Giles Church and Bramhope Methodists.

The Rev Robinson said: "The first weekend of the New Year we realise will be full of events and parties which many people in Bramhope will be taking part in, but we do realise it will be important to provide an opportunity for reflection, prayer, and re-dedication of ourselves and the community.

"There is a proposal to mark the millennium at 11.58pm on New Year's Eve. You may hear if it is taken up by the Government. People are asked to pause and light a candle and the churches have been asked to buy candles and distribute them.

"We have decided in Bramhope not to buy candles because it is difficult to distribute combustible objects when they are bigger than the letterboxes."

But Mr Robinson said that it was planned to distribute leaflets and that people could light their own candles if they wanted to take part.

He added that on that same evening, the churches would be holding their own services about 6pm, and that on New Year's Day there was a national proposal for church bells to be rung at noon, followed by prayers.

He said: "On the following day, which will possibly be known as Millennium Sunday, we would like to hold a Bramhope Civic Service to take place in the evening."

Chairman John Mordy suggested an involvement of the village puritan chapel in the celebrations and Mr Robinson said that churchgoers would be able to choose which of the churches to visit on New Year's Day.

And over the weekend of Pentecost Weekend of 2000, June 10 to 11, Mr Robinson said a party was proposed, to involve the whole village, including an exhibition of works by village clubs and societies at Bramhope Primary School.

He said: "Particularly in the exhibition and the Saturday afternoon party, we would want as many people in the village as possible to take part."

Any village societies wishing to get in contact with the Rev Robinson should contact (0113) 2842543.

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