FOR the lead miners of the North Pennines and their families it was the start of a great spiritual journey - a journey that has lasted for 250 years so far.

This weekend, Methodists from across the North-East will descend on the tiny County Durham village of Ireshopeburn to celebrate the anniversary of John Wesley's first visit to Weardale, on May 26, 1752.

A special service will be held on Sunday at the High House Chapel, next to the old thorn tree where Wesley preached for the first time in the County Durham dale.

The chapel is said to be the oldest in the world still in regular weekly use and was built in 1760 by lead miners inspired by Wesley's first visit to Weardale.

The pioneer of Methodism first came to the dale on horseback across the bleak Pennine fells. An extract from his journal for that day reads: "I had been out of order all night, and found myself much weaker. However, I trusted in the Strong for strength, and began preaching to a numerous congregation; and I did not want for strength till I had finished my discourse, nor did the people want a blessing".

David Heatherington, secretary of the Weardale Museum, said: "Wesley's journeys through Weardale and Teesdale must have been incredibly difficult. The thing you have to consider is that he covered something like 250,000 miles in his lifetime when footpads and highwaymen roamed the countryside.

"He made all but two of these journeys by horseback and over difficult terrain. His journey of 1784 - at the age of 81 - was made over what he described as the enormous mountain between Teesdale and Weardale in a tremendous storm."

Wesley's Journeys Through Weardale were carefully chronicled by retired school teacher Barbara Backhouse, helped by her friend and fellow teacher, Nellie Dawson.

Miss Backhouse, who died two years ago, was not a Methodist, but she was fascinated by the Wesley story.

Miss Dawson, who has been in ill health for some time, plans to attend Sunday's celebration service.

Her grandfather, Thomas Dawson, was one of the first people to play the great Vincent organ at High House and her father, Thomas Edwin Dawson, was a tenor in the chapel choir.

In her chronicle, Miss Backhouse points out that Methodism actually came to Weardale three years before Wesley's first visit in 1752.

Christopher Hopper, a schoolmaster from Ryton, near Gateshead, arrived there in 1748. He had become a travelling preacher after hearing sermons by John and Charles Wesley.

Hopper described how he and his companions came to Weardale in a blizzard and through "quagmires and enormous mountains".

A shepherd gave them shelter in his hut at Huntshieldford for the night, and the next day Hopper preached under the walls of the then castle at Westgate.

Four years later, Wesley preached at Hotts - now the site of High House Chapel - for the first time. He was to make 13 visits to Weardale.

The Wesley chronicle, which has been published by the Weardale Museum, says that John Wesley was one of the most remarkable men of the 18th Century and his ministry led to a spiritual and social revolution throughout England - and perhaps prevented a violent and destructive revolution.

Not least was his influence felt in Weardale. On all of his visits, crowds came to hear him and for many this led to a change of life.

The chapel was not only the centre for worship, but for many social activities and a means of education. Most important of all, his work, and that of his followers, led to a rekindling of religious fervour.

Wesley's great aim, says the chronicle, was "to promote, as far as he was able, vital, practical religion, and by the grace of God to beget, preserve and increase the life of God in the souls of men."

That his work continues today is proof of that success.