ALL eyes will be on a village church next week when it reaches a magical milestone.

St George's Church in Nutt Lane, Simister, turns 100 this month and is the only church in Greater Manchester marking such an anniversary this year as it was the one place of worship built in the county during World War One.

Digging began at the site on April 25,1914, and construction continued throughout the first year of the war, acting on the design of architect R. Basnett Preston.

The church was dedicated on a foggy night on October 14, 1915, by the then Bishop of Manchester Edmund Knox and has been a treasured landmark since.

Its original status was a Chapel-of-Ease — a place built for the convenience of Christians who cannot easily access the main church in the parish, St Margaret's Church in St Margaret's Road.

St George's provided elderly and disabled people, who could not travel far with a local place, to pray as their loved ones went off to fight overseas.

Fittingly, the church features a war memorial with the names of 141 villagers who died in World War One and 107 who perished in World War Two.

Official protection was given to the church in 2003 when it received Grade II listed status.

The listing reads: "This small but fine quality church is in an unusual, austere, but very successful combination of Romanesque and vernacular styles, its austerity perhaps reflecting that it was begun and completed during the World War One."

This April, villagers marked the church's centenary year with a festival on the nearest weekend to St George's Day. Children and musicians took part in a parade and there were games in the hall and a scarecrow contest.

The celebrations will continue throughout this month, starting on Wednesday at 7pm, when there will be a centenary Songs of Praise event to which everyone is welcome.

Then on October 16 at 7.30pm, Besses Boys Band will perform at the church: admission is £5.

Finally, on October 23 at 7.30pm, the Eden Singers will put on a show called the Magic of the Musicals, performing songs from stage classics. Entry is £5.

Joan Knott, who has helped organise this year's events at the church, said: "It is wonderful that it is the centenary year and we are proud to be keeping the village spirit alive.

"We raised more than £1,000 for the church's rood repair fund last year and we are hoping that people will be even more generous this year because it is this special anniversary."