HISTORY will be made at a church this weekend when it hosts its first ever wedding.

St Gabriel’s Church, in Main Street, Stanbury, will stage the wedding of a Haworth couple this Saturday following a successful application for a wedding licence for the 166-year-old building.

The church, which was initially built as a Sunday School, opened in September 1848 and has been serving the village ever since.

West Lane couple Simon Rushworth, who is an electrical engineer, and Julie Laycock, a support worker at Airedale Hospital's neonatal unit, have chosen to make their wedding vows at St Gabriel's.

Miss Laycock said: "It's a lovely church and it feels perfect for our special day. Although it's small it has lovely grounds, so everyone will be able to join in."

Reverend Peter Wilson, who is Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury's honorary assistant priest, will be conducting their wedding ceremony.

He said: “It’s a joyful occasion for the church and Stanbury to have its first wedding at St Gabriel’s.

“Now that St Gabriel’s is licensed for weddings it'll be something more that it can offer to the people of the upper Worth Valley who would like to get married in their own village.

“I’m looking forward to the ceremony and hope that it will be the start of a long and happy marriage for Simon and Julie.”

He said the application for the wedding licence was submitted by Haworth Parochial Church Council.