TWENTY-five Church of England bishops will be taking to the region’s streets for a four-day mission to talk about Jesus.

The bishops will visit more than 450 community events and bring the Gospel to pubs, streets and sports clubs across the Diocese of Durham, beginning from early next month.

Among the more unusual events, the Bishops of Whitby and Lancaster will be shining shoes and handing out Gospels on the streets of Bishop Auckland, while the Bishop of Sherwood, former Manchester City chaplain Tony Porter, will share a stage with former Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper at Durham County Cricket Club’s stadium in Chester-le-Street.

The Talking Jesus mission will start with a service at Durham Cathedral on March 2, led by The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu.

Dr Sentamu said: “Jesus came to bring the very life of God as a gift to all of us.

“The heart of the Christian faith is about having an encounter with Jesus – an encounter which transforms and brings hope and love”.