A new church in Tottenham says it wants to encourage young people to achieve their full potential.

The Gospel Centre, in Queen Street, is part of the Christian Pilgrims Church which officially opened on Sunday May 26.

Pastor Larry Ogundimu, the church’s spokesman, said the goal is to create a space that combines spiritual and personal development.

He said: “Our work is focused on the youth and we want them to realise they are not second class citizens and they can achieve their full potential.

“We run programmes to encourage and appreciate their achievements in all aspects of life.

“In most cases our work is very effective and 95 per cent of the young people in our church go on to university.”

The church will be run by senior pastor Clement Bamgbde and pastor Tennyson Adeleye and welcomes young people from any Christian denomination.

It runs youth days at which children discuss topics of their choice, appreciation days to celebrate educational achievements and day trips.

Pastor Ogundimu said the church came to Tottenham by chance after it lost its building in Kennington, Lambeth.

He said: “We lost the building but we wanted to continue out work so we thought we would just go wherever we could find and try to do a good thing.

“We believe that even if we can help one young person we will have succeeded.”

Sunday service at the new Gospel Centre begins at 10.30am and for more information email info@christianpilgrimschurch.org.uk