After completing the Gospel of St Mark in one hour and 45 minutes last weekend, the Rev Robert Duerr, curate at St Martin-on-the-Hill, Scarborough, has the other three canon gospels to go before Easter. This Saturday, he will read St Matthew's words, starting at 2pm, followed by those by Luke and John on the following two Saturdays.

He said: 'It was exhausting. I wanted to break down crying about three times because it felt like i was there. At the end of the session people had tears in their eyes.'

Rev Duerr said he got the idea from the Edinburgh festival where a performer had memorised St Mark's Gospel and recited it against a multi-media backdrop.

'I have do not have lights or smoke but the words themselves are captivating,' he said. 'I am reading it dramatically with voice changes.'

The gospels were written for different audiences, he explained. Matthew wrote for Jewish people, with many scripture references. Mark's is shorter and more to the point while Luke,as a doctor, produced a history and John is more mystical and profound, he said.

Picture: Gerard Binks.