For seven centuries St Andrew's Church in Eaton has served its community - and remains as close knit as ever.

Lying on the southern outskirts of Norwich, Eaton has changed much over the last century or so.

Housing estates have sprung up, roads have been built, Norwich has sprawled into the villages that once stood well outside the city boundaries.

Once a small rural parish, today Eaton is a suburban area of Norwich and home to thousands.

But at it centre stands one of Norfolk's ancient churches – St Andrew's - in the heart of what is still known locally as 'the village'.

Today's vicar, the Rev Phil Rodd – who prefers to be known as simply Phil – said a church has stood at the same site for nearly 1,000 years.

He said: 'Next year it is 700 years since the first named priest who was here at St Andrew's, Geoffrey de Boton.'

But that's not all, the church is also celebrating next year the 25th anniversary of the 'new church' an extension built to the original medieval thatched building.

Phil, 57, said: 'St Andrew's has always been a community church and the community has grown in the last 50 or 60 years. So the extension was built because the church became too small as the population of Eaton grew. There are now 2,700 homes in Eaton and around 4,600 people. It is quite a sizeable parish.'

The church offers two Sunday services with other monthly mid-week services.

Phil said St Andrew's is also dementia friendly.

He added: 'Eaton is a close community and that is reflected in the ministry of the church here. It is amazing how people know their neighbours and look out for each other, and clearly the church has a key role in modelling that type of interconnectivity and care for one another.'

St Andrew's has grown significantly in the last few years and employs a part-time children, young people and families worker. There is also a team of volunteers and an assistant priest helping to provide pastoral care.

Amid next year's celebrations Phil will be marking his own milestone - ten years as vicar as St Andrew's.

Phil said his own anniversary will be secondary to the celebrations planned to mark the 25th and 700th anniversaries.