A pink church which is celebrating its 141st birthday this year has launched an appeal to repaint the outside. 

St Philip's Church in Hassall Green, Sandbach held a 'Rose Queen' tea party last weekend to kick-start the fundraising. 

Now the church which started off life in Alsager is set to start planning other events, such as a beetle drive, in a bid to raise more money to repaint the outside of the historic church. 

Deputy church warden outside the eye-catching St Philips. (Photo: Nub News)

Some of members of St Philips live in Alsager. In 1883 it was moved by horse and cart to its present location in Hassall Green and a permanent church was built at St Mary's in Alsager.

Rev Michelle Goodrich, who presided at a service to celebrate the church's 140th anniversary last year said: "In the early 1880's, the building of Alsager's new church began and by 1883 the temporary, corrugated iron building began to receive its first worshippers.

"Soon afterwards, the community of Alsager decided to erect a more permanent church and so after many appeals and much fundraising by 1894 they enough money to commence the building of the current stone church.

"This wonderful pink church of St Philip's Hassall Green is that original church of St Mary's, Alsager. It was sold for the princely sum of £150 (the equivalent of around £19,000 today).

"By 1895, the rebuilding of the church was complete and this newly relocated church was rededicated to St Philip, one of Jesus' original disciples."

Deputy church warden, Emma Howell, explained the current campaign to repaint the outside: "We just want to give it a fresh lick of paint and improve the look of the exposed paint work. Everyone knows us as the pink church!

"My 14-year-old son washed the outside down and a church member has kindly start painting the framework of the windows outside. 

Emma's 14-year-old son, Henry, washing the outside of the church. (Photo: Emma Howell)

"It's a very family orientated church and people enjoy coming here. We're known everywhere as the pink church." 

Emma thinks the church was painted the legendary pink as a vicar back in the day liked the colour. The pulpit is even pink.

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