MORE than 5,000 people are expected to gather together in an Oxford park this weekend for a day of Christian worship.

For the past three years, churches in the city have united to stage Love Oxford in Broad Street – with 4,000 people attending last year’s event.

But the venue for Oxford’s biggest annual gathering of Christians has been switched to South Park on Sunday, to ensure that students revising for their exams are not disturbed and that more worshippers can attend.

African missionary Heidi Baker will be speaking about her work with orphaned and abandoned children in Mozambique.

Pete Wigley, a spokesman for St Aldate’s Church, which is coordinating Love Oxford, said: “We are expecting about 5,000 people during the course of the day and we are hoping for good weather — the last three years have been glorious. Previously there has just been a morning service, but this year there will be activities in the afternoon for families and children.

“Heidi Baker is an inspirational speaker and we hope lots of people will be around to hear her talk.”

People from about 40 churches across Oxford are expected to attend.

Rodney Shepherd, a leader at Emmanuel Church, which meets at Magdalen College School, said: “There will be congregations from all kinds of different churches — Anglican, Baptist, Non-Conformist and Anglo-Caribbean — but whatever their faith and backgrounds they will be spreading a message of hope and peace for the city.

“There has been a growing momentum for Love Oxford over the years and the new venue will give us room to spread out.”

Tomorrow and on Saturday, church volunteers will be handing out free burgers and hot dogs to members of the public in Bonn Square.

Churches have hired the park from the city council and any money left over after staging the event will be donated to a local charity or community project.

For more details about the programme, visit the website loveoxford.org.uk