A NEW female minister is hoping to reach out to the LGBT community at her new church.

Gemma Dunning, who has taken on the role at the Leytonstone United Free Church, in Wallwood Road, says her priorities are to welcome those of all faiths, including atheists, and help those struggling with sexual orientation.

The mother-of-two worked with gay young people during her previous job as a youth pastor.

She said: “I worked to support young people who identify as LGBT and those who have some faith or none.

“I supported them to keep going. It is very important.

“A church is often known for what it is against and not for what it is for.

“I think it really opened my eyes to what people outside of the church experience and go through.”

The 36-year-old was welcomed to Leytonstone United Free Church in Wallwood Road, Leytonstone, at a ceremony on Saturday, August 20.

In 2014 it became the first church in Waltham Forest to marry same-sex couples.

Mrs Dunning spent the past three and a half years working as a youth pastor at West Cliff Baptist Church in Bournemouth.

She worked as an advisor for housing charity Shelter while studying a holistic degree in community and family studies at Moorlands Bible College in Christchurch.

She said: “For me it was a great experience when I worked for a housing advice charity.

“We would help people to stop their properties from being repossessed.”

Mrs Dunning said that although she comes from a Christian family, it was not until she found herself a single mother at 17 that she really found her calling in her faith.

Now married to husband Gareth, 40, and with a son, 18, and a daughter, 13, she says faith is an important aspect of family life.

She said: “For us as a family it is a massive anchor.

“I am really excited to be here in Leytonstone and to be getting to know all of our new neighbours.

“The church is very inclusive and is welcoming and I look forward to working with the community.”

Amy Willshire, secretary at Leytonstone United Free Church said she is looking forward to working with Mrs Dunning in the future.

She said: “It is fantastic news and it is a really great fit for the church.

“We are thrilled to be starting this new chapter together.

“It will be an inclusive chapter. We will continue with our church values of radical welcome and being really active in the community.

“It is great to be carrying on with our involvement with the community.”