Members of the Methodist and Anglican churches have met in York for a major celebration of grassroots co-operation between their communities.

And the historic joint synod, held at Askham Bryan College on Saturday, has prompted a unifying invitation from Roman Catholics.

Following a day of dialogue between representatives of the Church of England's York Diocese and the York and Hull District of the Methodist Church, Fr Timothy Wright, Abbott of Roman Catholic Ampleforth Abbey, in North Yorkshire, called on the other churches to join him at the abbey next year for another joint synod aimed at further uniting the Christian church.

Saturday's synod, called by the Rev Stuart Burgess, Chairman of the Methodist District and President of the Methodist Conference, and Dr David Hope, the Archbishop of York, saw a series of presentations involving local ecumenical partnerships followed by open discussion.

The synod overwhelmingly endorsed a Statement of Intent aimed at developing further co-operation between the churches and agreed to meet together as a joint synod at least every two years.

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