St Peter's Church, Brighton, may be under threat of closure but on Saturday 300 people who attended a special service to celebrate marriage showed the congregation is very much alive and kicking.

Reporters Andy Chiles and Louise Acford spoke to some of the many couples who have enjoyed years of wedded bliss after being married at the church.

The high vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows have been the background for the happiest moments in many people's lives.

The altar of St Peter's has been the spot where hundreds of couples have exchanged their wedding vows. With a capacity of more than 2,000 it is the city's largest church, often referred to as its cathedral, and has unsurprisingly been a popular place for couples to tie the knot.

But since February it has looked unlikely that many more will be able to enjoy the same experience.

The Church of England announced that the landmark building had become redundant. With a regular congregation of about 90 and soaring bills for the upkeep of the building, it was decided the church should be closed.

Which is why many were quick to take the opportunity this weekend to take part in a special service at the church.

Hundreds of couples who exchanged their vows there returned on Saturday to take part in a mass renewal service.

Among them were Pat and Stan Kibble, who married in August, 1956, and have now retired to Shoreham.

Mrs Kibble, 73, said: "It really is a wonderful place. We had a lovely wedding here and it would be sad to see it go.

"I think St Peter's is as important to Brighton as the Royal Pavilion. They are the things people associate with the city. I just wish there was something we could do about it."

Mrs Kibble said the renewal service, the idea of mayor David Smith, had been an enjoyable experience for everyone who attended and a chance to remember their own happy days.

She said: "I remember we paid extra for the red carpet and choir. The weather was awful outside. It was blowing a gale and trees were falling down.

"The ceremony was wonderful, though. I'll always remember it."

The mayor asked Alan and Helen Long to help bring together couples who were married at the church.

They placed an advertisement in The Argus and were inundated with calls from people happy to take part.

George and Hazel Chapman, of Cairo Avenue, Peacehaven, were among of them.

Mrs Chapman, 63, said it bought back memories of the couple's wedding in 1962. "I was late and my husband stood on my dress. Your wedding day goes by so quickly you don't remember everything and after 45 years the memory goes."

The couple have two children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Mrs Chapman said the secret to a long, happy marriage was working together. "Sharing, talking to each other but remaining independent in your own way."

Among the other members of the congregation were three generations of the same family married at St Peter's.

There was a display of wedding pictures of the 1,000 couples married at the church in the past 50 years and a small reception followed in the church hall.

As well as couples, widows and widowers attended to give thanks for their marriages.

Mr and Mrs Long were themselves married at the church in 1963.

Mr Long said: "In the fifty years I have been going to the church it was one of the nicest services I have attended. It was beautiful afternoon and a beautiful service.

"It was lovely to see the church full and everybody singing. We'd like to thank the mayor and The Argus."

Guy and Caroline Frazer, of Queen Victoria Avenue, Hove, members of the congregation for many years, were married in 1992.

They live with their three children and Mr Frazer said: "It was nice to see the church full up with people celebrating the same thing."

Mr Frazer said he would like to see more couples married at the church in future.

He said: "We would like to see that but it's more important that there is a vision in the town that looks after everybody rather than just a building."

Did you get married at St Peter's? What was it like? Share your memories below.