St Hilda's: Final service at 112-year-old Halifax church as it shuts and becomes bigger pre-school and community hub

More than 150 people gathered to celebrate St Hilda’s Church on Gibraltar Road, which has served the parish for 112 years.

The building will still be in use, with an expansion of pre-school provision in the area and a resource for a wider range of community groups planned.

The parish will now join with St John’s in Warley to make a new parish – St John the Evangelist, Warley and St Hilda, Halifax – worshipping in St John’s Church on Windle Royd Lane.

Vicar of St Hilda’s and St Johns Rev Caroline Greenwood said: “We were delighted to welcome Bishop Smitha Prasadam to preside over the service, and Deputy Mayor Sue Holdsworth.

"It was a day of a mixed emotions. There was joy as we celebrated all that the church has meant to each of us mingled with sadness as we worshipped together in that place for the last time.”