A CELEBRATION will be held to mark 150 years since the Roman Catholic parish was founded in Harwich.

In 1864 Father Thomas Parkinson arrived in the town combining his job as a Chaplin for military and naval families at Languard Fort with building a church.

On Sunday, at 10.45am, the new Bishop of Brentwood, Alan Williams, will be leading the parish celebration at Our Lady Queen of Heaven church in Fronks Road, Dovercourt.

On Wednesday friends and neighbours in the town will join parishioners at 7:30pm for a service of thanksgiving followed by light refreshments in the church hall.

Throughout the next fortnight a small exhibition will be on display in the Dovercourt library showing a brief history of the parish.