A SPECIAL church service with a bit of a difference took place in Bratton Clovelly recently, organised by clergy from the Okehampton team.

The World AIDS Day service took place in St Mary the Virgin Church.

New team vicar for the Okehampton team, the Rev Stuart Wilson, said: ?The service was quite unusual. We had a video from Tanzania showing children who had AIDS.

?We used a power point presentation as well, highlighting some of the statistics and we had a piece of music called Andy?s Requiem, which is a beautiful, moving song of how he died from AIDS, which we used in the background.?

Mr Wilson said there was also music from an African children?s choir.

He said the service was very well received by those who attended.

?People were surprised and pleased ? I think they found it very moving and very helpful. Everyone went away saying anyone who hadn?t gone had missed a treat,? said Mr Wilson, who said the AIDS statistics in Africa were ?frightening?.

He said the service, which was led by the Rev David Webber, was a ground-breaking experience for the Okehampton team, which would now like to put on another, slightly unusual service, called Images of Easter. It will be held on April 16, although the venue has not been finalised yet.

?It?s very much in the planning stage at the moment,? said Mr Wilson, who was only appointed as an Okehampton team vicar last Tuesday by the Bishop of Plymouth, after being ordained as a curate to the team five years ago.

?The service was held at Northlew Parish Church, which was packed with more than 200 people. It was a really fantastic evening and very humbling for me,? said Mr Wilson, who said it was unusual to be able to continue to work in the same area.

?Usually you get sent away ? it?s a real privilege for me,? he said.