A KATES Hill church is hosting a World Peace Day celebration.

St John's Church will be welcoming people from all faiths and denominations between 2pm and 5pm on Friday, September 21 and inviting them to display leaflets, make a short presentation and take questions from the public.

Then, at 5pm the group will join The Bert Bissell Society, led by Councillor Steve Waltho, for a multi-faith procession to the Bert Bissell bench on nearby Cawney Hill, and commence a replica Peace Cairn, as built by Bert Bissell and members of his bible class to commemorate VJ Day in August 1945.

The church's World Peace Day service will then be held at 6pm, led by Rev Robert Barlow.

The guest speaker will be Ray Gaston, inter faith enabler for the Wolverhampton Episcopal Area and adviser of inter faith relations to the bishops of Wolverhampton and Lichfield.

Deb Brownlee, trustee of St John's Church Preservation Group, said: "This is the first year we are arranging this event so that all the churches and faiths in Dudley may get together in friendship, tell the public about their individual churches and places of worship, and have the opportunity to meet many new people.

"We hope many new friendships will be made and that all the faiths and the public will benefit."

Anyone who would like to book a stand at the event should email savestjohnschurch@hotmail.co.uk or call 07871195042.