A 150-strong Leigh congregation from 19 churches joined worshippers from 170 countries celebrating the annual World Day of Prayer Unity Service.

This year's challenging service at Leigh Baptist Church, which was prepared by Christians of Paraguay on the theme "United under God's Tent" was led by Mrs Elizabeth Smyth.

The altar decoration reflected the rich colours of the Paraguayan landscape and children from the Sunday School produced a collage of spider web lace, a speciality of Paraguay, reflecting unity in diversity. They also researched and displayed the country's animals and reptiles and Paraguayan harp music was used to highlight parts of the service.

The address was given by Mrs Susan Stewart, a local preacher in the Leigh and Hindley circuit of the Methodist Church and a representative of Wigan Road Methodist Church on the local committee of World Day of Prayer.

The joint mixed choir was led by Mrs Joyce Wood of Bedford Methodist Church, accompanied by Mrs Catherine Williams, from the Baptist Church, on the organ.

The collection of £240 will go to the work of Christian Literature societies and for Christian educational projects worldwide.