CHRIST Church Walmsley, with St Andrew’s Bromley Cross, hosted a series of retro activities to mark its 175th birthday.

The church, in Blackburn Road, Egerton, celebrated the special landmark with a family heritage day, which was themed around the 1800s and 1900s.

Visitors were given tours of the church and its graveyard, as well as exclusive access to its marriages and deaths records.

They were also shown what life was like for children in the early 1900s, by taking part in a Victorian-themed classroom lesson.

In the church’s parish hall there was a wartime party featuring 1940s style live music, dancing and a sing-a-long, and a tearoom staffed by people wearing wartime outfits.

A variety of war memorabilia, including army trucks and machine guns, were displayed outside the church.

Ken Holt, who organised the celebrations, said: “This event was held to celebrate the church’s heritage and reach out to the wider community. We received many accolades from people saying what a marvellous day they had.”