A Gala Bingo club that was purchased by a church and a private company called Medinbrand is to be used by local groups. Campaingers do not want another church and were after a cinema or arts centre to benefit the community.

The Grade II building in Church Road, Camberwell was purchased by the Evangelical group who plan to move from their current location in Peckham Rye. Local residents have been invited to meet with the church committee to discus possible uses for the church outside of the time it is needed by the church.

According to the Andrew Adeleke, Pastor of the Church they would try and host after-school clubs, disabled group events and art exhibitions in the future.

He added: “What I have told our committee to do is to meet with the community."

“The church is about relationships."

"Everybody irrespective of sex or their sexuality will be welcomed.”

“What we intend to do is to make as much as possible open for everybody, not just the church but other groups."


Campaign leader Tom Leighton said: “There’s no point in going in and saying what we don’t want."

“I am going to do everything I can to find some common ground.”

“Everybody agrees they want something for the community there, the difference is going to be how we get it."

Ibuken Adebayoa member of the congregation commented: “We are open to suggestions from the community who are passionate about the place."

“We share that same passion and want to agree to a solution."

“The one thing we are clear about is that we don’t want to just use it as a worship space.”