WORSHIPPERS in Quinton will mark 50 years of the town’s Methodist church being on its current site during a month-long celebration in March.

The golden celebrations will begin on Friday, March 2, at 10.30am with an opening dedication service led by the Rev Professor Frances Young.

There will also be displays around the church of people and events which have contributed to Quinton life during the past 50 years.

The history of Methodism in Quinton goes back to the 18th Century and since then there has been four Methodist Churches in the area – the third situated on College Road before it was demolished to make way for the M5 motorway.

A new church was built on Ridgeway Avenue, opening in 1968, leading to the birth of Quinton Methodist Church.

Dr Michael Hall, who has organised the celebrations, said about the opening day in 1968: “Although I arrived in good time the church was already full and we were in the hall.

“The PA system that had been installed picked up Radio 2 which was all those seated in the hall heard! Those in church didn’t have a clue that was happening and there was subsequently a lot of “fake news” in the press about events that day.

“In March we are celebrating 50 years of worship and witness in the current building, something which reaches far beyond the neighbourhood into the wider world and we are so proud of this.”

A host of celebratory events will take place throughout the month with everyone from the local community and surrounding area invited to attend.

Some highlights include a Flower Festival held in church from Friday, March 2, to Sunday, March 4, and a family service led by the Girls’ and Boys’ Brigade company – which have been in existence since 1939 and 1949 – on Sunday, March 11

Other Services throughout the month will be led by guest preachers as well as the present minister, Rev Dr Paul Beetham.

But no celebration would be complete without a cake, and this will be cut by 95-year-old Alan Porter, the oldest member of the congregation, on Sunday, March 18, after the morning service which will be led by Rev Canon Gareth Powell, secretary of the Methodist conference.