New babies, good Samaritans and falling in love are just some of the topics being sought out to celebrate the birthday of one of Coulsdon's oldest buildings.

Members of St John the Evangelist church, Canon's Hill, Old Coulsdon, are looking for 750 good news stories from the community – one for every year since the first brick was laid for its foundations.

Reverend Linda Fletcher came up with the idea of collecting positive stories for the landmark birthday.

She plans to involve schools and community groups and go door to door across the village to make sure no story goes untold.

Rev Fletcher wants stories from the past three decades with the only rule being they must be celebratory.

She said: "There has been so much bad news in the last year with the credit crunch and the earthquake disaster in Haiti, so we felt it would be good to get the community talking about something good.

"We have made postcards to drop through doors in the village (inviting people to send in their stories), schoolchildren will be interviewing elderly people in care homes and people from the parish have already come forward with some tales."

Rev Fletcher, who lives in Wallington Avenue, Old Coulsdon, said although members of the church would start collecting stories in April, people should start getting their thinking caps on now.

She added: "For some it will be about thanking God, for others who aren't in the church it will be about telling your good news stories to brighten up the community.

"It is a great opportunity to celebrate our history, share good news about our present and ask questions about our future."

Church members have yet to decide how the stories will be presented but are considering putting a booklet together.

There will also be a weekend of summer fun in July and a medieval banquet in April, to mark St John's birthday.

To get involved email Rev Fletcher on revlinda fletcher@live.co.uk.