A congregation in Kidlington is gearing up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its parish church.

St John the Baptist Hall Church, in The Broadway to the south of the village, was built in the 1950s because St Mary's Church was too far away and too small to accommodate the village's rapidly expanding population.

Its foundation stone was laid by the Bishop of Dorchester in October 1957 and its first service was held in September 1958.

During the following half-century, it has provided a home for countless groups and societies.

The congregation has always contributed to its furnishings, paying for the altar, organ and candlesticks.

The whole parish also joined together to produce the tapestry that hangs in the hall, which was completed in 1990.

The Rev Hilary Campbell has been at the church for almost three years after moving from Goring with her husband and two teenage sons.

She said: "Kidlington is an interesting and busy place. We have been made to feel very welcome.

"It's nice to be able to offer the church hall as a facility for the community and all the different groups, as well as for it to be a place of worship."

The celebrations begin on Saturday, with a parade from West Kidlington Primary School in Oxford Road to the church at 1.30pm.

The church will then open its doors to the community. During the afternoon, there will be displays, stalls, games, face painting, tombola and refreshments - including a hog roast.

And at 3.30pm, there will be a balloon launch.

The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard, is expected to attend a service at 3pm the following day.

Congregation member Margaret Day, who has worshipped at St John the Baptist for 15 years, said: "It serves as a hall both for regular groups and also things like children's parties because it's a nice big open space.

"It's not a very pretty, picturesque building, but the congregation has a lot of heart. It's a beautiful place to be."