A HUDDERSFIELD church which escaped closure in the 1980s has celebrated its 150th anniversary.

A special service to mark the anniversary was held at St John's Church, Birkby, at 4pm on Sunday.

It was attended by the Bishop of Pontefract, the Right Rev Tony Robinson, and the Very Rev John Field Lister, who was vicar at St John's from 1944 to 1954, and Rev Martin Lowles, the present vicar.

The service marked the culmination of a week of celebration events.

Events included an art exhibition, floral display, a buffet and reception, a quiz and a concert featuring singing duo Sapphire and Meltham and Meltham Mills Brass Band.

The celebrations are even more special for St John's, because it nearly did not make it to the 150th anniversary.

In the late 1980s, a row broke out after officials of the Church of England's Wakefield Diocese tried to close St John's and merge the congregation into neighbouring churches.

But there were fierce protests from parishioners and eventually the church was saved.

Following last week's celebrations, it was business as usual at St John's at 7pm last night, when a service to mark the Feast of St Michael and All Angels was held.