The community of Kennington gathered in the parish church to mark the building's 50th anniversary.

The service on Tuesday night - led by the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard - was attended by hundreds of residents who paid particular tribute to the Rev Stuart Davies, the man behind the project to build the new church in the 1950s.

The current vicar, the Rev Terry Smith, has been at the church for nine years.

He said the church's congregation was growing and getting younger.

"At one stage the church was very strong," he said.

"When it was built, it was clearly seen as the parish church and had a lot of support.

"Over the years people have gone to other churches - there are so many other famous churches right on its doorstep.

"But I think it's changing again now. People are looking again at their parish church.

"We had quite an old congregation when I came, but we have had new members and in particular young families. Our family service is very popular."

Mr Smith said it was a great honour for the Bishop of Oxford to lead the service.

"He's an extremely busy man, so it was good to have him," he said.

There has been a church in Kennington since the 14th century, but the original building fell into disrepair and there was not a usable church for 50 years until Henry Bowyer, the Rector at Sunningwell, built a replacement church in 1828.

That 'old' church has been used as a church hall since the appointment of Mr Davies, who saw it as his mission to build the new church.

St Swithun's, which cost £12,000, had its foundation stone laid on September 15, 1956 - coincidentally, the 1,000th anniversary of the village.

On February 5, 1958, the building was consecrated.

Former choirmistress Sylvia Rivers, 82, said it was an important celebration.

"When it's 100 years you won't get the people who were there at the dedication," she said.

"It means a lot to me, because I was there in 1958.

"I go to church every week and I've been in the choir for 20 years."