A LANDMARK Ipswich church is celebrating its 70th birthday with a series of special events. All Hallows Church in Landseer Road was built by Munro Cautley, diocesan architect from 1914 to 1947 and designer of Anglican churches across Suffolk, including St Augustine of Hippo in Bucklesham Road.

A LANDMARK Ipswich church is celebrating its 70th birthday with a series of special events.

All Hallows Church in Landseer Road was built by Munro Cautley, diocesan architect from 1914 to 1947 and designer of Anglican churches across Suffolk, including St Augustine of Hippo in Bucklesham Road.

Since then it has stood the test of time and is now going through the process of becoming a listed building by English Heritage.

Reverend Rick Tobin, who has been at All Hallows for the last five years and is also chaplain to Ipswich Sea Cadets and honorary chaplain to Ipswich's Mission to Seafarers, said: “It's a one-off building that has an art deco and medieval feel to it and the red brick design still seems to work.

“This is a wonderful parish that stretches from Nacton Road to Cliff Quay.”

The church is involved in the local library project and hosts meetings of community groups while construction on the new Gainsborough Library is completed.

The church has already welcomed creative pupils from Pipers Vale School to decorate the altar ahead of this weekend's series of celebratory events including an exclusive performance by the Landseer Players theatre group.

All Hallows will be open for people to have a look around, between 10am and 4pm until Sunday.

From 7.30pm tonight(Fri) and tomorrow evening, the Landseer Players, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, will perform a collection of songs and sketches. Tickets are �5 for adults, �3 for children and �12 for families.

On Sunday the church will be visited by the Bishop of Dunwich who will conduct a special Eucharist at 10am before a baptism.