The founder of the Methodist Church John Wesley will speak from the grave about Bradford at the city's cathedral later this month.

His own words, spoken by an unseen actor, will ring out around Bradford Cathedral as part of a special service to commemorate the 300th anniversary of his birth.

Mr Wesley, who is thought to have travelled 250,000 miles across the country on horseback, preaching during the 18th century, shared his thoughts and ideas several times at the cathedral when it was the parish church.

He also visited Keighley, Birstall and Haworth.

Bradford Methodist Churches, the organisers of the service on Sunday, May 25, at 4.15pm, wanted to mark the occasion in a momentous way by projecting his own words from his journal.

Reverend Geoff Reid, team leader and city centre worker at Touchstone in Bradford, said: "On his first visit to Bradford, he wasn't impressed but on his last visit he became very impressed, so he felt that Bradford had changed over the period of early Methodism.

"Nationally, the Methodist church wants people to make the occasion a forward-looking event and think about what his priorities mean in today's terms, reflecting his enthusiasm and concerns.

"Everybody is welcome to the service which will have interesting words, music and images from across the district."

Reverend Sarah Jemison, minister in the Shipley and Bingley Circuit, will preach at the event, exploring what the traditional Wesleyan emphasis "all need to be saved" might mean for a 21st century, multi-cultural and multi-faith city.

Bradford's service, describ-ed as a "creative act of worship in a traditional setting" is one of four services across the West Yorkshire Methodist District, with others to be held at Skipton on June 22, at Shelley near Huddersfield on June 1 and Mount Zion, Halifax, on July 6.

John Wesley, born in Epworth in Lincolnshire in 1703 led a very active life throughout the century until his death in 1791.

"He wasn't just an evangelist, he was also an organiser," said Mr Reid.

"The effectiveness of the Methodist Church was due to his organising genius. He believed the Christian Gospel was for all and this will be emphasised in these special services."