A SPECIAL church service at St Mary and All Saints Church, in Kidderminster, will serve as a 40-year reunion for two Reverends.

The Reverends James Butterworth and Geoffrey Shilvock will be reunited for the first time in 40 years when they conduct the service together for the Friends of St Mary’s on Sunday, June 28.

Both James and Geoffrey held various offices in the Worcester, Hereford and Gloucester Dioceses, before James retired in 2008 from his post and Geoffrey retired in 2011.

A spokesman for St Mary’s said: “As Geoffrey lives locally, we are fortunate to see him on a regular basis and we are now looking forward to welcoming James back to Kidderminster from his home in Herefordshire.

“Many people in the area remember both with affection and will be pleased to see them together again at St Mary’s. They were both musical and James used to play the organ – it’s very sad that he will be returning at a time when significant damage has just been done to the church and the organ due to the recent theft of lead from the church roof.”