A BOLTON church is appealing for the public’s help in gathering memories as it reaches its 140th anniversary.

Holy Infants and St Anthony’s Church in Baxendale Street, Astley Bridge, will celebrate its anniversary on October 27 and wants people to send memories and pictures. They are also asking people who have been married there to renew their vows there as part of the celebrations.

To mark the anniversary, the church will be opening its doors continuously for 40 hours from October 20, when people can visit the church at any time, day or night to pray.

On October 27, The Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford, John Arnold will be holding a holy mass at the church and the church will hold an afternoon of celebrations including refreshments and a raffle.

Sharon Courtney, a member of the church choir, said that the church is a focal point of the community. She added: “The church welcomes so many different people, from so many different religions.”

The church was opened in 1877 as Catholics in Egerton, Halliwell, and Astley Bridge had to travel all the way to St Marie’s in Little Bolton, if they wanted to attend holy mass or any holy days.

Services at St Maries’s became overcrowded and thanks to the efforts of the priest and the community, a new church and school was provided at Astley Bridge.

Everyone is welcome to attend the celebrations and anyone with memories, photos or who wishes to renew their vows is being encouraged to get in touch by emailing butch1990@live.co.uk.