Volunteers braved the cold to help plant a community orchard on the grounds of St John at Hackney church in Lower Clapton.
Revd Al Gordon wants to open up the church and its gardens to the community to tie in with a £5million restoration of the 226-year-old building.
There are plans for beehives, a salad and herb garden and a sensory garden, but the first idea to bear fruit is the orchard.
Earlier this month volunteers and church workers gathered to plant trees for the orchard, which were donated by national charity the Orchard Project.
Revd Gordon told the Gazette: “As as the parish church of Hackney, we want to be a blessing to our community.
“This orchard is a visible sign of hope, bringing different people together in partnership to make the city a more fruitful place to be.”
The church restoration project is set to start in September.
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