Couples celebrating their Golden Weddings have been invited to renew their vows at a service celebrating the 50th anniversary of a “union” between churches in Harden and Wilsden.

St Saviour’s Church, Harden, and St Matthew’s Church, Wilsden, will be celebrating their own “golden anniversary” as a united parish next Wednesday. A host of events has been organised including a special service this Sunday where couples can renew their wedding vows.

The Reverend Bob Evans, who was licensed to the church in March, said the churches were particularly keen to renew the vows of couples celebrating their Golden Wedding anniversary.

He said: “I was quite surprised when I came here to find that Harden and Wilsden were merged into a single parish 50 years ago.

“We thought it was an opportunity to have a party and celebrate.

“So we are having a Golden Wedding anniversary party with a ceilidh in Wilsden Village Hall and we are having this golden anniversary service with an opportunity to renew wedding vows.

“We have not found anybody yet who will be celebrating their 50th, but you don’t know who is going to turn up on the day.”

The Dean of Bradford, the Very Reverend David Ison will preach at this Sunday’s service at 10.30am.

The ceilidh will be held at Wilsden Village Hall this Saturday. Tickets cost £7.50 including supper.

A parish picnic will be held at the Malt Shovel pub in Wilsden Road, Harden, on the boundary of the two original parishes on Saturday, July 3, from noon.

Two exhibitions are also to be held in the churches celebrating the changing lifestyles between 1960 and 2010. On Friday, July 9, a Then and Now evening will be held at St Matthew’s, in Wilsden. Tickets at the door will cost £5 including supper.

For more information contact Mr Evans on (01535) 273758.