IT was smiles all round at the new St Mary’s in Wythall as the church celebrated its first wedding for nearly 30 years.

Simon Morbey and Poppy Bridgens tied the knot in a lively ceremony in front of a packed house of family and friends, the couple being the first the sign their names in the new marriage registers.

The sound of wedding bells has not been heard at St Mary’s since 1986, when the old church was closed due to structural problems.

While the congregation continued to meet in local school halls, for 27 years weddings were held in the parish of Tanworth-in-Arden.

However, a new chapter began in April last year when the new church opened its doors, in a joint building project with the Coppice School on whose site the new church stands.

Since then St Mary’s has quickly re-established itself at the centre of Wythall life, holding packed seasonal services, concerts, parties, classes and activity groups, and as Saturday, September 26 weddings.

The Rev Rich Burley, vicar of St Mary’s, said: “Simon and Poppy are a fabulous couple, and it’s been a privilege to be involved in their big day, made that extra bit special by it being our first wedding.

"Our prayer is that this is the first of many, as our community gets to know their new parish church as a key place for special moments like these.”