HUNDREDS of church-goers from around the city came together to worship in open air this weekend.

Love Oxford is an outdoor Christian festival in the city which involves worshippers from different cultures and churches gathering together to line Broad Street.

The fiesta attracts hundreds of people who flock from across the city, including tourists and tour groups who pit-stop to enjoy the music, tap their toes to the beat of the gospel choirs or listen to some testimonies of how God has worked in the lives of residents.

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The event was held on Sunday morning, much like a typical church service but, instead of inside a church hall the service was held at the back of the high street.

thisisoxfordshire:

The stage at this year's Love Oxford event

The worship session brings together various congregations from the churches across the city, but was shelved last year when organisers made the decision for the then-annual event to only be put on every other year.

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

He explained that last year, when the event was put on hold, he thought the staging of the Love Oxford event every other year would work better for everybody as it’s an expensive gig.

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Elliot Vanderhyde was one of the hundreds of volunteers ensuring a smooth running of the event.

He is part of the Cowley Community Church congregation, and explained why they were putting on the event: “I’m a volunteer here and we are all here because we love Oxford.”

He added: “We believe in a god who rules and coming together, it is powerful.”

Since the event started 14 years ago it has moved to South Park – where it was staged in 2009 ­— before making a comeback behind the town centre in 2015.

At the time, it had moved location following complaints that noise in the city centre could be disturbing students.

AK and Andrew James were at the event to worship and meet with other church goers.

They explained why it is important to come together and be inclusive of everybody.

They said: “It is good to welcome and come together to support Oxford and support each other.

“We are here for the community.

“It’s good to stand here and see all the churches together, not people saying we only go to this church or don’t come to that church.”

Festival goers expect hymns, prayers and gospel music on the big stage, which is headed by the team at St Aldates Church.

Other churches who join in include Oxford Community Church – which is based at the Kings Centre in Osney Mead, and the Christian Life Centre on Cowley Road.

The website explains: “The churches of Oxford are uniting to praise God together, to preach the Word in the city, and to pray.”