A LANDMARK church which featured in several major films will take centre stage for its own spiritual reasons next week.

St Thomas Friarmere, known at Heights chapel, sits in a spectacular setting overlooking Delph and will celebrate 250th anniversary on the weekend of June 23 and 24.

The iconic church will be open on the Saturday from 2pm to 4pm followed by Evensong and on Sunday a 10.30am Eucharist will be led by the Rt Rev Mark Davies, Bishop of Middleton, followed by refreshments.

The church will be open from 1pm to 4pm followed by a Songs of Praise. On both afternoons there will be displays by increate works by The Piecemakers and historical information boards.

Weather permitting, short graveyard tours will take place.

A book, Heights Church and Friarmere – A Potted History 1758-2018, will be on sale (£15) with the authors, Mary Rodgers and Geoffrey Dent, on hand to discuss the contents.

The book faithfully records a history of Heights until the closure, St Hilda’s conversion to St Thomas’ church in the village centre, a history of Whit Friday and other notable events.

There are pictures of the church’s stained glass windows and a previously unpublished dialect poem by famed local poet Ammon Wrigley.

Both the authors have a lifetime association with the parish and have collected contributions and recollections from a wide range of past and present inhabitants.

In 1968, an 18-page booklet was produced to celebrate the church’s 200th year containing a brief history, list of dates and a few significant happenings in the village.

But a couple of years ago several of the booklet contributors thought an updated version should be produced to celebrate the 250th Anniversary.

Ms Rodgers, who has a detailed memory of Heights and the village together with extensive family records, volunteered to be major contributor.

And Mr Dent who, as a member of the PCC has access to Parish records, Parish magazines and Diocesan archives, volunteered to try to compile the updated booklet.

However, as more people came forward with information, photos and memories, the booklet began to grow.

Delph-born John Battye, a former mayor of Oldham, attended the church as a child and has added detailed and amusing memory of life in Delph and the church in the 1950s and 1960s and the group realised the project was turning into a book.

The PCC gave Mary and Geoff permission to publish the book in their name to compliment the anniversary celebrations.

The authors said: “We are grateful for the tremendous support and encouragement from present and past members of the congregation and village in producing what has turned out to be a 145-page book with approximately 130 images and photos.”

Copies are available from both authors, John Battye, Delph Post Office and the Saddleworth Team Office.

The church is now part of The Churches Conservation Trust and recently appeared in scenes of the blockbuster movie ‘A Monster Calls’ starring Liam Neeson and the classic Jamaica Inn.

It has also appeared as a backdrop in several TV productions.