NATCHEZ &045; The annual Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi will meet in Natchez Friday through Sunday, bringing hundreds of delegates from throughout Mississippi.

Ann Siddall, a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Natchez and one of the chairmen for the event, said planning for the annual council began more than a year ago and has involved not only Episcopalians in the Natchez area but people from throughout the community.

Siddall cited the Rev. Zabron A. &uot;Chip&uot; Davis III as key to the success of the meeting. &uot;We depended on him as a resource and for so much guidance,&uot; she said.

Davis, rector of Trinity Episcopal, encouraged out-of-town participants to come early and stay an extra day after the convention and said several historic houses will be open free for touring to those registered for the council.

&uot;We have 740 people or so already registered, and there will be others registering on Friday,&uot; Siddal, a Vidalia, La., attorney, said. &uot;We could easily have 1,000 people. And we could not have done it without our convention center and staff.&uot;

The three-day meeting will take place at the Natchez Convention Center, where workers have been scurrying all week to help prepare for the weekend, said Walter Tipton, Natchez director of tourism.

&uot;Stratton Hall has been the one involved in all the details,&uot; he said. &uot;She has been working with them for over a year.&uot;

The Right Rev. Duncan M. Gray III, bishop of the diocese, has expressed excitement about the council. &uot;It is going to be a time in which I will try to articulate my vision for the diocese for the rest of my episcopacy,&uot; Gray said in a recent interview. &uot;There has been considerable excitement in both the responses to my preaching and sharing the outline of the vision. What I am looking to do (during council) is to spend some time on Saturday elaborating on some of these teachings.&uot;

Davis said the celebration of the Holy Eucharist will begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday and is open to the public. The Saturday sessions will center on business of the diocese and electing clergy and lay leaders.

In terms of numbers, the meeting will not be the largest ever held at the convention center, Tipton said. &uot;But it is the biggest in terms of a three-day conference. This is a great way to start 2005,&uot; he said.

Furthermore, to have a large group in January is a big boost. &uot;We don’t usually see conventions like this in January. This is a real plus for us.&uot;

Siddall said many tasks were made easier because of the professional help she and others were able to get from the convention center, the Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau and Dunleith Plantation.

The CVB undertook all the bookings for hotels and bed-and-breakfast establishments, for example.

&uot;Dunleith is catering a cocktail party, two continental breakfasts, coffee breaks and lunch Saturday and Sunday,&uot; she said.

A state youth council will meet separately at the same time at Trinity Episcopal Day School, Siddall said.