THE Archbishop of Canterbury will help make a stand at Hay Festival before dropping into the local church tonight.

Dr Rowan Williams will help staff from St Mary’s Church man a stand explaining the work of the Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust at the festival site off Brecon Road.

Diocese of Hereford spokesperson, Anni Holden, said: “We have been receiving offers to help steward during the ten day event but we did not expect the Archbishop to be among them.”

He will then be joined for a special Evensong service at the church this evening by another Archbishop, Desmond Tutu.