A CHURCH is on a quest to find relatives of parishioners killed in the First World War for a memorial service marking the start of the conflict.

The names of four church members are carved into the wooden altar at the Union Congregational Church, in Pall Mall, Leigh.

Now the Rev Stan Hamberger and Deacon Mark Perkins are keen to invite relatives of the men to a centenary service on August 3.

The parishioners are: Second Lt Pervical Crawley Challener, of the King’s regiment, who died on December 12, 1917; Lt Eric Neville Van der Ben Copeland, of the Royal Naval Division, who died on March 26, 1918; Rifleman John Sewell Davies, of the London Regiment, who died on April 24, 1915; Private Richard George Wordsworth, of the Essex Regiment, who died on August 18, 1918.

Mr Perkins said: “All we know of Lt Copeland was he lived at 1 Grand Drive, Leigh.

“We also know Rifleman Davies was the son of the Rev T Davies, who was a minister of the church in the early part of the century.

“Unfortunately, that’s all the information we have. But if anyone thinks these men are relatives, we would like to invite them to the memorial service.”

To contact the church, call 01702 826579.