ALL of the Christian churches in Kidderminster will come together this month in a "major celebration" commemorating the 150th anniversary of the town hall.

The event on Pentecost Sunday, May 15, will culminate in 150 balloons saying "God Bless Kidderminster" being released into the sky.

This will follow a procession, led by civic and church leaders, accompanied by band music, from St Mary's Church, via the town hall, to the open space between De Bradelei Mill and JJB Sports stores on the Weaver's Wharf shopping complex.

Here, a Songs of Praise ceremony will take place featuring hymns, prayers and readings and a commemorative plaque will be unveiled by Mayor of Kidderminster, Siri Hayward.

Canon Owain Bell, of St Mary's Church, who has helped organise the event, with a host of other Kidderminster clergymen, including Father Douglas Lamb of St Ambrose RC Church and Canon Nick Barker of St George's, said the parade would be reminiscent of popular Whitsun celebrations in bygone years.

"It's a celebration not just for the churches of Kidderminster but the people," he said.

"What is especially exciting for us is that all the Christian churches of Kidderminster will be coming together," he added.

"It's a real opportunity just to give thanks for the town in which we live and to ask for God's blessing on its present and future.

"It will be reverent, of course, but hopefully also fun."

The event will be attended by church figures, including the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, the Bishop of Worcester and the divisional commander of the Salvation Army, Major Bill Heeley.

Methodist district chairman, Peter Curry and regional minister for the Heart of England Baptist Association, Reverend Brian Nicholls, will also be involved, as well as Elizabeth Welch, the moderator of the West Midlands United Reform Church synod.

Canon Barker added: "At the Millennium there was a Songs of Praise concert which involved all the churches and the charter trustees thought that as part of the town hall anniversary celebrations it would be good to do a similar event."