Saffron Walden Baptist Church is holding an exhibition this week to celebrate its 250 years of heritage.

The church was founded in 1774 with the help of Elizabeth Fuller of Myddylton House, and has stood at the top of the High Street for the past 250 years.

At first it was a Georgian chapel with a burial ground in front - now the church halls - before becoming a Victorian church in 1879.

The heritage exhibition traces the history and activities of the church over that time, with artefacts, old photos and more.

The exhibition will be open from 10am to 4pm at the church from Thursday, May 9 to Sunday, May 12. Refreshments will be available.

A display will also be hosted at Saffron Walden Museum all week, which includes two large parchment minute books dating from 1743 onwards.

Blue Badge guide Sarah Kirkpatrick will give two guided walks around the former Baptist history sites in the town.

These take place at 10am on Thursday, May 9 and at 2pm on Saturday, May 11.

Walks are free to attend but must be booked in advance at the Tourist Information Centre.

A joint service will be held at Abbey Lane United Reformed Church, from which the Baptist church developed, at 10.30am on Sunday, May 12.

A spokesperson for Saffron Walden Baptist Church said: "If you, your family or ancestors ever had a connection with the church, you are encouraged to come and have look at the history displays, artefacts, photos and oral history recordings.

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"If you have wedding photos, baptismal certificates or other memorabilia you would be willing to display, please bring them along."

To get in touch with your photos and memories, contact administrator@sw-bc.org.

On June 30, the church will hold an anniversary service led by Revd Lynne Green, general secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, followed by a celebratory lunch - which must be booked at the above email address.

Saffron Walden Baptist Church is one of more than 170 churches in the Eastern Baptist Association, and has close links with village churches in Ashdon, Great Sampford and Thaxted.