LOVE Oxford, a Christian festival attracting thousands of worshippers, is returning to Broad Street this summer.

The massive worship session bringing together congregations from churches across the city was shelved last year, as organisers confirmed the outdoor event would now take place every two years.

READ AGAIN: Love Oxford Christian festival will return to Broad Street in 2019

The show of faith in the city centre is back and will take place on Sunday, July 21 from 11am to 12.45pm.

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Rev Charlie Cleverly, Rector of St Aldate’s Church, which helps to run the celebration, has been one of the leading organisers since the event was first held in Broad Street in 2005.

He said last year that he thought staging Love Oxford every two years would work for everyone as it was expensive to stage.

“Sometimes less is more,” he added.

Love Oxford switched to South Park in 2009 before returning to Broad Street in 2015.

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Love Oxford moved to the park following complaints that noise in the city centre disturbed students revising and organisers have always had to choose the date for the worship session carefully to ensure Oxford University students are not disturbed.

The website said: “Join us for an open air family church service in the very centre of Oxford.

READ AGAIN: Christians' love event stalled by exams

“The churches of Oxford are uniting to praise God together, to preach the Word in the city, and to pray for the peace of Oxford.

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“This year we are delighted to be joined by Canon J John (John Ioannou), international evangelist and author and founder of the Philo Trust."

Thousands of people gathered in Broad Street on July 16 in 2017 but the event did not take place the previous year.

Organisers faced difficulties in the past because Love Oxford, which features thousands of Christians singing modern worship songs, clashed with student exams.

A protocol between Oxford University colleges, the city council and a Broad Street stakeholders’ committee, says ‘noisy events’ should not take place at the end of May and in June when students are studying for exams.

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The Broad Street stakeholders committee includes representatives from the city and county councils, Oxford University and the Oxford colleges in and around Broad Street, Carfax ward councillors, Broad Street Traders Association and the Covered Market Tenants' Association.

Love Oxford did not go ahead in 2014 after organisers asked to stage the festival in June, during a ‘red zone’, when students have a busy work schedule.

Other churches which take part include Oxford Community Church in Osney Mead.

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A prayer meeting for Love Oxford will take place at the Christian Life Centre in Cowley Road on Friday, June 7 at 7.30pm.