A Barnet man has been awarded a medal to commemorate his community-building work by the Bishop of London.
Michael Polledri, who has an MBE and chairs the Hale Village development in Tottenham, helped build St. Francis’, the first new Anglican church in London for 40 years.
He received the St Mellitus Medal from the Bishop of London, the Rt Revd & Rt Hon Richard Chartres in recognition of substantial contribution to the Christian life of London.
The Hale Village regeneration project is situated between Haringay and Walthamstow and has been commended as one of the top 30 schemes in the UK.
Mr Polledri said: “It’s a huge honour to receive this medal. To help create such an important community facility and service is a great privilege.”
Work on the project began in 2008 to create a ‘new urban village with community at its heart’.
Its community centre, part of the new church offering, has been operating from temporary premises in Hale Village for two years.
The new church facilities will include a 24 space nursery, a café, two community halls, a learning workshop and a chapel for prayer and worship.
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