THE 150th anniversary of a Saltaire church will be celebrated with a host of events.

Saltaire Methodist Church, in Saltaire Road, will kick off its festivities with a special service, on Sunday, February 4, which will look back on the church’s history.

Church council secretary Lesley Hainsworth has written a drama production, which covers the history of the church, that will be acted out by members of the church.

Three former ministers have been invited back on the other Sundays in the month to lead worship – the Reverend Dr Martyn Atkins, who is now team leader and superintendent minister at Methodist Central Hall in London, will preach on February 11, the Rev Tom Wilkinson is on February 18, and the Rev Sarah Jemison on the 25th.

Refreshments will be served after each of the four services, which start at 10.30am, giving the congregations the chance to catch up with the former preachers and any visitors.

There will be a display of photographs showing past and present church members and their activities. The photographs were collected by church steward Carolyn Shore.

The celebrations will close on Sunday, February 25, with a service featuring traditional songs of praise from 6pm. The church will also be open between 2pm and 4pm on the first three Tuesdays of February, when refreshments will be served.

Mrs Hainsworth said: “We hope that people who know us now, knew us in the past or would simply like to see what we are celebrating, will join us on at least one of these occasions.”

The church’s worship leader, Ann Willey, has written a booklet, Glimpses of 150 Years of Methodism in Saltaire. It features the major events since the church opened in 1868. The booklet, priced at £4, also introduces readers to the people who were involved.