Hundreds of parishioners gathered to celebrate a church’s 175th birthday.
The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev. Julian Henderson, led a special service at All Saints in Clayton-le-Moors to commemorate the anniversary and also All Saints Day.
Around 150 adults and 40 children joined together to sing Happy Birthday before the choir sang ‘Be thou my vision’ as Hold Communion was given.
After the service they enjoyed a potato pie lunch and special cake at Enfield Cricket Club.
Rev. Toby Webber, who recently took over as vicar of Altham and Clayton-le-Moors , said: “It has been great to share in these celebrations of 175 years of Christian worship and witness.
“Encouraged by our celebrations, we are even more committed to keeping All Saints as a thriving Church, bringing God’s love to the heart of the community.”
All Saints Church was founded in 1840 in response to the growth of Clayton-le-Moors.
The initiative was taken by John Mercer, famed for inventing the ‘Mercerisation’ process which gives cotton the sheen of silk.
The first vicar was Rev. Thomas Wood and his daughter was the first to be baptised.
