The patron saint of the Kingdom of Northumbria will be celebrated with a special church service conducted in Northumbrian, rather than standard English.

The service for St Oswald on August 6 will be held at St Andrew’s Church on Newgate Street in Newcastle, led by the Reverend David Grosch-Miller.

The congregation will sing hymns in the local dialect, and members of the Society will read the scripture in Northumbrian.

Society chairman John Davidson said, “Many years ago a similar service in Ashington was a huge success, enjoyed by so many people that we thought it was high time to repeat it.

"Members of the public are very welcome to attend and hear our native dialect being spoken.

"We want as many people as possible hearing something as familiar as a church service in our local dialect.”

The service is expected to last approximately one hour, with refreshments provided after the conclusion.

Doors open at 2:00pm, and the service will begin at 2:30pm.

Mr Davidson added: “It would be good if people get a chance to chat after the service about how much of the service they understood; how much of our language they remember and how much of it they still use.”

St Oswald was born around 604 and was King of Northumbria from 634 until his death in 641 or 642.

After defeating the Welsh ruler Cadwallon ap Cadfan at the battle of Heavenfield, believed to be near Hexham, St Oswald brought the two Northumbrian kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira under a single ruler.