The congregation of Grace Church Highlands recently got together to celebrate its seventh birthday and new independent status.

Grace Church Highlands has grown from around 50 members to 120 in the seven years since it was founded.

The church serves the new community of Highlands Village in Enfield and until this summer was legally part of the nearby Christ Church Cockfosters.

It is thriving and in addition to regular worship, offers a free English Language Support club, youth football, and assemblies in a local primary school.

Grace Church is an example of the 100 worshipping communities that the Diocese of London has committed to create or renew as part of Capital Vision 2020, its strategy launched last year to serve London in ways that are confident, compassionate and creative.

Going forward, the church is looking forward to broadening and deepening its engagement and service to the local community.

The celebrations were joined by the Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres.

The Reverend Andy Wadsworth, minister-in-charge at Grace Church Highlands, commented: "It is a thrilling time in the life of the church family as we look back with thanks to God's faithfulness and forward in hope and expectation as we seek to make Jesus Christ known and serve the local community."