RUNCORN Spiritualist Church is celebrating annual spiritualist world peace day.

The church beneath the arches of the Silver Jubilee bridge in Ashridge Street is holding a special service at 6.30pm on Sunday, July 5.

The congregation will be one of many throughout the country commemorating the special day.

The event coincides with the spiritualists’ national union’s annual walk for peace which takes place every year at the national arboretum in Staffordshire.

Lilian Rose, president of Runcorn Spiritualist Church, said: “Every year we hold our spiritualists’ world peace day and join together in our annual service to manifest positive thoughts and prayers in the hope that one day we will achieve world peace.

“The day is always filled with joy and emotion and is a great day for all involved.”

The event aims to demonstrate the Spiritualists’ unified belief in the power of thought in manifesting peace, and brings people together, old and young alike, to join in the power of prayer.

The church service will include hymns, readings and a special prayer honouring the inspirational peace makers of the world including Mother Teresa, Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi and Pope John Paul.

The theme of this year’s peace day will be the ‘butterfly effect’.

It will remember the quote “The flutter of a butterfly’s wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world.”

The service will remember all loved ones who have now passed to spirit, including those that gave themselves in times of hardship, and will empower thoughts of peace around the world.

For more information on the annual peace walk, visit snu.org.uk.