Comedian David Mitchell and presenter Victoria Coren will open an arts festival in Belsize Park at the church where they got married.

The star couple, who live in Belsize Park, will be reading from their books in a free event to kick off the first arts week held at St Peter’s church, Belsize Square.

The festival, called A Celebration of the Arts, runs for eight days from Saturday 22 June until Sunday 30 June, starting with an hour-long reading from David Mitchell and Victoria Coren at 12pm.

The week will have distinctly community feel, with performances from the Belsize Community Choir, Belsize Baroque orchestra, and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama students.

The organisers hope the festival will become an annual event.

Ken Robbie, warden at St Peter’s, said: “David Mitchell and Victoria Coren have a connection to the church as its where they got married last year. It was nice of them to put on this event and to do it for free.

“There will be something for everyone, from toddlers to people of any age. If it goes well, we hope we will do a sequel.”

All the events are held at the church and most are free of charge, with the ticketed events selling for a maximum of £10.

There will be regular worship, with Westminster Abbey’s canon theologian conducting the parish eucharist on Sundy 23 June.

Five workshops will also be held throughout the week, offering visitors the chance to try their hand at singing, knitting, drawing, dancing, and prayer through the medium of pottery.

An extra day of events will be held on Sunday 7 July which will include a fish, chips and wine night as well as a compline, a traditional evening act of worship.

Tickets for the priced events can be reserved by contacting the arts week box office on 0207 4331385 or emailing stpetersarts@gmail.com. Tickets can also be bought on the door. Workshops are free of charge but places must be booked in advance by contacting the box office.