A TASTE of life in the Sudan was given to parishioners in Otley on Sunday.

The Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, the Rev Joseph Marona, (above left) and Abraham Matoc, the provincial treasurer, (above right) stayed in the town while on a three day visit to the Bradford diocese.

They joined in Sunday worship at All Saints Parish Church and talked about their hopes and ambitions for the Christian church in Sudan.

The Rev Graham Buttanshaw, above centre, vicar of All Saints Parish Church, said it was a very useful visit which had given people an insight into life in the Sudan.

Mr Buttanshaw first met the Rev Marona in 1985 when he was working in the Sudan and when the Archbishop had just been made a bishop.

"The Archbishop talked to people about what was happening in the Sudan. For a lot of people it's like another world and for him to be here and to be very human was very

important."

Mr Buttanshaw said the purpose of the Archbishop's visit was to ask people to pray for peace and reconciliation in the Sudan - torn apart by civil war.

"It was also to encourage us to speak to our local and national representatives to put

pressure on the British government to put pressure on the government in Khartoum.

"There are two million people who have died in the last two years in the Sudanese civil war."

Mr Marona also visited Salisbury during his stay in the country as part of his trip to those dioceses particularly supportive of the Sudan.

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