Having opened on November 16, 1968, the church is celebrating its 40th birthday today and tomorrow with a host of events and activities beginning with an Agape feast tonight from 7pm.

“An Agape feast is a special religious meal closely related to the eucharist,” Pastor Malcolm Eastwick said.

“So our feast will include a foot-washing ceremony to remember when Jesus washed his disciples’ feet as well as a communion service which is a celebration of the Lord’s supper.”

Mr Eastwick said the weekend would also include a focus on history.

“History is something that is hard to get a grip of when you’re looking at it by yourself but is far more interesting when someone explains it to you. I like to include some history in our services as a way of keeping things interesting.”

Tomorrow will be like stepping into a time warp at the church with guests encouraged to dress in 60s and 70s style for the day’s activities.

Tomorrow’s activities will start with a Sabbath school at 9.30am followed by a church service at 11am where there will be a visiting guest speaker.

At 12.30pm there is a fellowship lunch and people are encouraged to take a plate of vegetarian food. At 2.15pm there will be a very special ceremony in which two young women will be baptised by emersion as well as a profession of faith where a man will be formally accepted into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The weekend will wrap up with a social games night from 6.45pm tomorrow.