Billy Graham event marks anniversary of 1984 tour.

A CELEBRATION is planned next month to mark the 25th anniversary of the visit to Sunderland of American evangelist Billy Graham.

Organisers are spreading the word to track down people who attended meetings at Roker Park football ground to get together at St Andrew's Church, Roker on Saturday 6 June.

The Mission England North East meetings were part of a visit by Billy Graham to six regional Football League stadiums in 1984. The Roker Park ground hosted eight evenings from May 26 to June 2, 1984. The Roker Park turnstiles registered 124,000 over the eight days as the crowds ranged from 10,600 to 20,300.

The Sunderland event attracted worldwide attention, especially when the cold caused Billy Graham to wear a cap for the first time in all his years of preaching.

David Vardy, one of the organisers in 1984 as well as for next month's celebration, said: "We want to mark the impact that the event had on churches and thousands of individuals in the North East region. The celebration will be an occasion for thanksgiving as well as encouragement for the future." "Although the stadium at Roker Park has long since been demolished, St Andrews Church, was used for some of the preparation meetings in 1984.

"We are really pleased a 1984 convert will be the main speaker. Jon Burns, who is pastor of a Vineyard Church in Yarm, was only 17 when he reluctantly went with his parents. He only intended to pick up a slice of souvenir turf but responded to Billy Graham's message and later became director of evangelism with British Youth for Christ."