LAST year's president of the national Methodist Conference will be coming to Malvern at the weekend as the town's Methodist church marks its 150th birthday.

Rev Kenneth Howcroft will be the preacher at a special service at the Lansdowne Crescent church on Sunday at 10.30am, which will be followed by a buffet lunch.

And at 5pm, members and choirs from the other churches in the south-west Worcestershire Methodist Circuit will join the congregation at the church for another service, followed by a bring-and-share tea.

And for the next week, which is also Malvern Civic Week, the church will be open every day between 10am and 4pm, with an exhibition of life at Lansdowne from 1866 to the present.

This will include historic documents and old photos showing the development of the church, as well as photos of more recent and current activities. Light refreshments will be available.

And on Wednesday, Great Malvern Primary School's choir will be giving a free concert at 1pm to celebrate its own centenary. The school started life as the Wesleyan School in the downstairs hall at Lansdowne and moved to its current site on Manby Road when conditions became too cramped.

Other events being arranged to mark the anniversary include more concerts and special services, meals, a sponsored walk of the Malvern Hills, a picnic and a quiz.