For the first time, the covenant service held by Methodists on the first Sunday in January each year is to be held in Worcester Cathedral.

St Andrew's Methodist Church in Worcester will close for the occasion, enabling its congregation to share their special service with the cathedral's own congregation.

The Methodist Covenant Service has been held on the first Sunday of each year since 1780, although its roots go back much further.

It takes the covenant of the Puritan church and puts it into the context of worship to reflect the fact that everyone responds to God individually, but at the same time is part of the body of the church.

Methodists reaffirm their faith during the service, making their own covenant to give themselves to God, trusting and accepting His plans.

The Rev Anne Smith is superintendent of the Worcester Methodist Circuit and minister at St Andrew's Church.

She said: "We were delighted at the invitation to hold the covenant service in the Cathedral. It is one of the jewels of Methodism and holding it in such a magnificent building will make it all the more special."

Mrs Smith will preside over a shared eucharist according to Methodist rites as part of the service, and Canon Alvyn Pettersen, acting dean at the cathedral, will preach.

He said: "The fact we are able to share such an important service demonstrates that the Anglican-Methodist covenant is not just a formal document, but is being actively lived out in Worcester."

Anyone is welcome to attend the service, which starts at 10.30am on Sunday, January 7.