Last year's march in Portadown passed off peacefully

The Reverend Jim Rea said the Orange Order leadership did not want to see a repeat of the violence witnessed in previous years.

The dispute at the County Armagh church centres on the desire by Orangemen to march along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road on their way back from a church service, against residents' wishes.

The Portadown Orange Lodge attends the service at Drumcree Church each July, which commemorates the anniversary of the battle of the Somme.

Last year's march passed off peacefully, but over the years, there has been serious violence directed against the police and Army at Drumcree.

Mr Rea, of Thomas Street Methodist Church in Portadown, said the days of "going up the hill" and "having a very raucous and riotous engagement with the police has gone".

"I don't think anyone wants that and the Orange leadership certainly doesn't want it," he told BBC News Online.

The minister said he expected that on Sunday, Orangemen would march to the church, attend the church service, walk down to the security barrier and hand in a letter of protest.

Drumcree is a problem which is still there, but there are quiet, small bridge-building initiatives all the time Brian Walker Portadown 2000

"But at the end of the day, that doesn't solve it. You cannot do that forever," he said.

The impasse over the parade could only be achieved by both sides engaging in dialogue, he said.

Last Friday, there was an multi-cultural night at his church, when members of Portadown's ethnic minorities came along for food and a discussion.

People from the Garvaghy Road were also invited to the gathering.

Mr Rea said it was an attempt "not just to address racial problems in the town", but also the sectarian ones - partly borne out of the Drumcree saga.

'General atmosphere'

Brian Walker, chairman of regeneration agency Portadown 2000, said tension in the town had fallen away over the past few years.

Many people were not quite sure of the date of Drumcree this year, he said.

Mr Walker said there was a growing confidence in the town and business was much better than during the worst days.

"There are more and more visitors coming to the town - it is a more vibrant shopping centre and we have two annual festivals now," he said.

"Drumcree is a problem which is still there, but there are quiet, small bridge-building initiatives all the time.

"We have been successful in changing the general atmosphere from one of pessimism to one of optimism.

"Five years ago, the majority (of people) would have been perceived to have been against any sort of agreement, but now the majority would be perceived to be in favour of bridge-building.

"There has been a complete sea change in the whole atmosphere of the town from five years ago."

Mr Walker said a new development body would be launched in September, with representatives of all the political parties on the board.