THE 125th anniversary of a local church is being celebrated this week.

St James' Church, in Higher Broughton, is celebratingthe milestone birthday with a series of events.

The celebrations started on Wednesday with a children's art evening featuring various art projects around the church and grounds, in Great Cheetham Street East.

Then Thursday and Friday are devoted to a fact-filled exhibition on the history and life of the church.

The exhibition will feature old wedding photographs of couples who married at St James', the history of the church in photographs and a display of church life today. Also on display will be the marriage and baptism registers.

The exhibition will be open to the public from 10.15am to 7pm on both days with the registers available to view between noon and 3pm on Thursday and from 5pm to 7pm on Friday.

Historically, parishioners at St James' Church, who were born in Higher Broughton, have moved towards Prestwich and Whitefield as they have become more affluent, so the exhibition is sure to bring back memories for some residents.

The week of events will culminate in a grand celebration on Saturday with a Victorian afternoon tea party and an evening presentation of the past 125 years at a This Is Your Life event.

And on Sunday there will be Holy Communion and a morning service, followed by an anniversary walk and special service in the afternoon.