A MALVERN church celebrated its 125th anniversary with a packed service of thanksgiving on Saturday.

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, was the chief celebrant at the mass, which took place at St Joseph's RC Church, Newtown Road.

Among the concelebrants were the abbots of Downside and Douai abbeys and Dom Augustine Strickland, who was parish priest of St Joseph's when it celebrated its centenary.

The Mayor of Malvern, Coun Whinray Coates, was a guest, alongside representatives of local churches, and the heads of Dyson Perrins High School, Malvern College, Malvern Girls' College, St James's, St Joseph's Primary School, Blessed Edward Oldcorne High and St Mary's Convent.

Fr Raphael Appleby said: "It was a lovely event.

"The weather was fantastic and everyone enjoyed it very much."

The church was opened in 1876 by Fr Ullathorne, the first Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, and was the first new Catholic Church in Malvern since the Renaissance.

Three years ago, the church was extended, a project which won the Malvern Civic Society's award for that year.