A covenant was signed between the Church of Ireland and the Methodist Church in Ireland yesterday at Chrome Hill, near Lisburn, Co Antrim.
It is an area close to where John Wesley entwined two beech saplings as a symbol of his hopes for a growing relationship between the two churches in 1787.
These trees, now fully grown, formed a background to the signing yesterday.
The covenant was formally signed by the Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames, and the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Rev Winston Graham.
Archbishop Eames said it represented "a major step forward in understanding and fellowship between our two churches".
As Primate he greatly welcomed " this historic moment in the pilgrimage of two Irish churches which have so much to share and to learn from each other."
Both were "making a full acknowledgement of each other's church and accepting that we share 'the Faith once delivered' and expressed in the historic creeds. Secondly, we commit ourselves to a road of prayer, discussion and co-operation that under God will lead us to that unity which is His will," he said.
"Today we acknowledge past hurt and misunderstandings as we pray that God will bless what we are and guide what we will become," he said.
Warmly welcoming the covenant, Mr Graham said "the emphasis must now be on the practical working out of the covenant as we commit ourselves to share a common life and mission.
"We must find further ways of working together, building on what has already begun."
