A SPECIAL service is being held at St Michael's Church in Highworth on Sunday.

The town's churches have teamed up to raise people's spirits and acknowledge the impact of the pandemic on their congregation in a 10.30am Big Sunday session which will be live-streamed on YouTube on the Hope for Highworth channel.

The service will include giving thanks for those who have come together to support others during the pandemic, contributions from children in the town, and time to reflect on those who have lost loved ones during lockdown.

CEO of the Evangelical Alliance Rev Clive Calver will be focusing on how to have hope for the future even in these dark and turbulent times.

Vicar of Highworth Rev Geoff Sowden said: "This is an opportunity for us to come together as a community to acknowledge and give expression to God our loss as a result of Covid-19, and to then focus on the hope we have in Jesus."

Leader of Highworth Community Church Matt Ford said: "Big Sunday is an event like no other. A united church seeking to unite our brilliant community through reflection, remembrance and hope”

The clergy have been distributing food on behalf of Food Collective, contacting isolated people and helping with debt relief.