Mayor of Islington Troy Gallagher had the opening honours at Christ Church

ANYONE walking along Church Path in Highbury Fields may have noticed a new building is up and running this week.

On Easter Sunday, Highbury Grove’s Christ Church unveiled its new community centre.

Mayor Troy Gallagher joined vicar Andy Chrich and associate vicar Tania Witter to welcome visitors into the space. The building has been entirely funded by the congregation.

“We needed to raise more than £1million – there’s been no grant or trust funding available.

“We have been really generously supported with the fundraising we’ve done,” said Verity Baldry of the Community Centre Committee.

The planning application ran very smoothly, Ms Baldry said, despite the fact that the centre is built on a “very sensitive site with grade two listed buildings”.

The church hopes to offer a range of services, from a “homework club” for vulnerable children to a space for Ukrainian refugees to congregate after they arrive in the UK. The new space can be rented for £50 an hour, Ms Baldry said.