Young love was in the air when a couple became the last ones to marry in a half-a-century-old church which is being relocated next month.

Joanna Kendall, 20, married Alex Nevin, 19, both of Avis Avenue, Epsom, at Ruxley Church, in West Ewell, Epsom, on Saturday, May 11.

Ms Kendall, a dog groomer who works from home, and Mr Nevin, who is his wife’s full-time carer, met four years ago at the Epsom Derby and the pair got engaged last Christmas.

The new Mr and Mrs Niven were the last ones to marry in the current Ruxley Church building, which is 48-years-old. 

It is due to move further down Ruxley Lane into a new building, which is being constructed for the congregation, in June, with the first service being held in the new building on June 23. 

The church's reverend, Stuart Thomas, said: "The current building is not longer appropriate for the kinds and levels of activity we're now running, nor the numbers attending."

Your Local Guardian: Joanna and Alex Niven, of Avis Avenue, Epsom, married at Ruxley Church on May 11. Photo: Julian Nevin

He added: "We identified the need for a new building over a decade ago so this has been a long time coming.

"The present building will be replaced by affordable housing, for which there is a huge need in Epsom."

Mrs Niven said: "It’s a nice new beginning for the church because it’s very old and hopefully we will get some new people coming to the new church."