WORSHIPPERS in Quinton have kicked off their month long celebrations to mark 50 years of the town’s Methodist church being on its current site.

The golden celebrations got underway at Quinton Methodist Church on Friday (March 3) with a special flower festival.

The Ridgeway Avenue church also launched displays around the building of people and events which have contributed to Quinton life during the past 50 years.

Helena Taylor, church member, said: “The floral displays were spectacular. They were absolutely beautiful and brought so much colour into the church.

“The timeline of events which shows how life in Quinton has changed during the past 50 years is wonderful and really interesting to look through.”

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.”

He added: “But throughout 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.”

Events marking the anniversary continue this weekend with a family service led by the Girls’ and Boys’ Brigade company – which have been in existence since 1939 and 1949 – taking place 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.

A celebratory birthday cake 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.