THERE will be celebrations at Malvern's Christ Church this month to mark its 125th anniversary.

The church was built in 1875-76 for servants working in the Avenue Road area. A grant towards the building was made on condition that all pews on the south side were reserved for the free use of poorer parishioners.

"The people who lived in the big houses built it so that they wouldn't have to have their servants in the Priory," said churchwarden Hilary Berry, who has written a guide to the church.

"It was initially in a tin hut in the corner of the parish school grounds until Lady Emily Foley gave some land in Avenue Road for a new church."

Curiously, the foundation stone laid by Lady Foley is part way up the side of the tower.

"We don't know why it was put there. They had to build a platform for her to get to it and she was not happy about that," said Mrs Berry.

Christ Church boasts a fine east window designed by the eminent Victorian stained glass artist Charles Eamer Kempe and an organ built by Nicholsons, of Malvern Link, in 1884.

The war memorial in the north aisle records the names of 76 men of the parish who lost their lives in the two world wars.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, five parishioners are putting on an art exhibition in the church from Thursday, January 4 to Sunday, January 7.

It will include watercolours of local views by church organist John Adams, atmospheric watercolours by chorister Richard Perkins, drawings by chorister and social events organiser Lynne Linder, plus oils and watercolours by Wendy Townsend.

Daphne Robinson will be showing a collection of paintings dating back to Victorian times by herself and some of her relatives and friends.

The exhibition can be seen from 9am to noon on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and on Sunday at the special thanksgiving service of Holy Communion at 11am.

This will be attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Malvern, David and Mo Williams, followed by lunch in the church hall.