A CHURCH is set to gain full parish status.
A ceremony on Sunday will mark the change for the Anglican St Mary Magdalene Church at Outlane.
It is being viewed as a rare honour when many churches are being closed down.
The church was previously affiliated with St Mark's, Longwood, before linking with St Andrew's, Stainland.
It has been open since 1911 but never became a parish church in its own right.
The Rev Rodney Andrew Chapman, vicar of the Outlane church, said: "St Mary's is the only church in the area that hasn't reached this status, therefore this honour is long overdue."
The official service by the Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Rev Stephen Platten, starts at 2.30pm on Sunday.
