The Archbishop of York will plant a sapling from a yew tree that was around during the time of Christ in his home village to mark the new Millennium.

The cutting is from a 2,000-year-old yew tree still growing in a Kent churchyard and Dr David Hope will plant it in Bishopthorpe churchyard on Sunday at 3pm.

It is seen as making a visible connection with the time of Christ's birth and will be one of many similar ceremonies going on around the country to mark the planting of saplings from the same ancient tree.

The Yews For The Millennium project was launched by Dr Hope and TV botanist David Bellamy for the Conservation Foundation at Bishopthorpe Palace in 1996.

Before Sunday's ceremonial planting, Dr Hope will preach at the village Methodist Church and the congregation of St Andrew's Church, Bishopthorpe, will join the 10.30am service.

The Rev Paul Rathbone, vicar of St Andrew's, said: "The Archbishop is very much a part of our village and likes to be involved. We are delighted that he is free to take part in this historic moment."

Following the planting ceremony, children will be able to collect a Millennium mug being offered to all children in the village by the parish council.

Last weekend, Dr Hope, who is patron of the Mothers' Union (MU) in the Diocese of York, conducted a service for more than 1,600 Mothers' Union members at York Minster.

Saturday was the Feast of the Annunciation, which commemorates an angel visiting Mary to tell her she was to be the mother of Jesus.

Each year the MU celebrates the place of motherhood and family in the life of the world and the Church by holding services in every parish church on that day.

But for the year 2000 every diocese in the worldwide Anglican Communion held a single MU service at noon local time to create a "Mexican wave" of celebrations of Christian family values around the globe.

The Sheriff of York, Coun Harry Briggs, joined several high-ranking church leaders from across the Yorkshire and Humber region for the service.

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