CELEBRATIONS are being planned for the 850th anniversary of one of a city’s oldest churches.

Archaeologists believe the parish church of St Margaret of Antioch, in Crossgate, Durham City, dates back to 1160AD.

A range of events is planned to celebrate the anniversary, including an Easter vigil and celebration, reunion service, medieval fair, community flower festival and re-imagined medieval Mass.

The Reverend Barnaby Huish, rector of St Margaret’s, and St John’s, in Neville’s Cross, said: “It’s a fantastically faithful congregation, who are involved in many aspects of life.

“It’s an active worshipping and praying community and although it isn’t a large congregation I keep discovering involvement in aspects of life around the area.

“The 850th anniversary gives us an amazing perspective of what, as a church, we are about.

We’re in it for the long haul. We’re concerned with lifelong care for a community and locality and above all for people within the area.”

The church is also raising money to create a St Margaret’s Well, in Tanzania, through member Jim O’Connor, whose work sinking wells has transformed the lives of thousands of people.

For more information on St Margaret’s Church, call 0191-384-2433.