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The church service held on a fairground ride

Isabella Holliday
supplied The reverend sat in a white gown and black trousers next to the mayor, wearing a white shirt and blue suit on a flying chair. They are above a beige building in the centre of Oxford and smiling.supplied
The Reverend Anthony Buckley and Lord Mayor Chewe Munkonge

Have you ever attended a church service on a funfair ride? Or seen a reverend giving a sermon from a Sky Flyer?

One of the country's oldest fairs enjoys this tradition every year in the centre of Oxford.

St Giles' Fair originated in 1625 and each year a special blessing is given the night before it begins.

The service is held on the ride owned by the Noyce family, whose involvement in the fair goes back generations.

The Noyce family A black and white photo of around twenty choristers in white gowns on a lit up Carousel ride. They are stood with four members of the church congregation. The Carousel has lots of lightbulbs and says 'Noyce and Sons' on the top.The Noyce family
The church service on the Noyce family's 'Galloper' ride in 1983

The Sky Flyer ride, where the blessing was held this year, is run by Joey Noyce.

The idea to hold a special blessing came from his grandparents, who wanted to hold a church service on their ride when they first came to St Giles' Fair in the 1950s.

That was 70 years ago, and the service has been held ever since.

Noyce said: "I can go back possibly six generations that have been involved in this industry.

"When you look at the rides that come into St Giles', and the backdrop we've got here - there's no other fair, not just in the UK but in the world, that is as iconic as Oxford's St Giles'."

He plans to come to the fair for the rest of his life - and hopes his son will continue the family tradition too.

A middle aged man with grey hair in a purple check shirt stood in front of a funfair ride. The ride has blue and red stripes at the base, with a red gate above it. It's where the Sky Flyer ride is.

The church service on Noyce's ride involved hymns and prayer - for the city, the fair and for all those who would come along.

City Rector the Reverend Anthony Buckley gave an address - before getting onto the Sky Flyer ride himself.

He said: "The St Giles' Fair is a big part of Oxford life.

"This always feels very special. Partly because of the wonderful Showmen and the Showmen's Guild who do so much to bring the fair to Oxford every year."

After the service concluded with the National Anthem, Noyce held a one-time free ride before its official opening of the fair the following day.

Sat next to Lord Mayor Chewe Munkonge, Buckley had a go at riding the Sky Flyer over Oxford's historic skyline.

Beforehand, he described himself as "a thrill seeker - but one who likes the thrills within my limits".

After the short ride, he said: "I was kept calm by the Lord Mayor.

"I have to say, I enjoyed it more than I thought I was going to!"

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