A Hawksworth church is celebrating its 100th birthday this week with the presentation of a commemorative artefact.

Hawksworth Village Methodist Church held its first service on May 27 1903 and on Sunday a special ceremony will be held to mark the occasion.

A silver trowel presented to the original preacher, John Warner, 100 years ago has been given back to the church to mark the occasion.

Organist Peggy Waddington said: "The trowel really is lovely, it is silver with a beautiful ivory handle.

"It belonged to John Warner who was a local preacher, his daughter Eileen Warner died recently and left the trowel in her will to us.

"He was a preacher for 75 years and even got a certificate for his long service. The trowel is engraved saying it was presented to him on July 12, 1902 to mark his laying of a memorial stone on behalf of Hawksworth Chapel on behalf of the local preachers.

"His name is marked on one of the foundation stones as well."

The trowel was in Devon and was delivered to Hawksworth by the exec-utors of Eileen Warner's estate.

Member of the church Glady Estevez said: "The first service was held 100 years ago this week. We will be keeping the trowel in the archives.

"Everyone who laid a stone had their names written on the stones. They were given a trowel and we were presented with one after the anniversary of the stone laid last year.

"It was given back to us, it had been in Devon. They thought it would be a good idea "

The Rev Mark Godfrey will be leading a special service on Sunday.

Colin Dews presented the original trowel from the stone-laying ceremony of 1902 to the chapel last week and it was accepted on behalf of the members by Peggy Waddington.