FIFTY years of weddings, baptisms and funerals will be celebrated at an anniversary service for the Central United Reformed Church in Derby.
The building was first opened and dedicated in 1963 as the Victoria Street Congregational Church, built as part of a £400,000 renovation of Duckworth Square.
It replaced a large gothic church which had stood on the site for more than 100 years – the new church was hailed at the time for its modern design.
Jill Barling, a convenor at the church, was baptised at the original church in 1954 and said it had been part of her life since before she could remember.
She said the church continued to have an active role in the city: "There's something going on most days, a play group, groups for retired people and coffee mornings.
"It's important to have a city presence in the community and it's always been the same."
The new church, built over shops, was the first in the city to have lifts. The Derby Telegraph reported on its opening: "Modern in design, with the added distinction of being Derby's only first-floor church, the building is in complete contrast to the former church on the site.
"The demolition of the previous Gothic structure built 103 years ago was part of the £400,000 redevelopment scheme for Duckworth Square."
The first funeral which took place at the new church was that of 67-year-old Cyril Simpson Harfield, chairman of the Derby Rambling Club.
In 1972, the Congregational Church in England and Wales and the Presbyterian Church of England were combined to create the United Reformed Church.
At the first subsequent service held in the Derby church, the Rev John Waller said: "Never before in Britain had two Christian legions formed one union."
Jill said that Scottish people who had moved to work at Rolls-Royce in Derby were regulars at the church as well as people from all over Derbyshire.
There is a celebration of the church's history on Sunday, December 8, after a children's service at 10.30am.
