The Church of England has launched a French-speaking service to appeal to at least 300,000 Francophone Londoners.

St Barnabas Kensington held its first 'French Connect' service on Sunday hoping to attract London's burgeoning French-speaking community.

Different estimates put the French population in London as between 300,000 and 500,000, meaning the British capital is between the third and the sixth biggest 'French' city.

Despite this there are just a handful of French churches services in central London, including the Eglise Protestante Francaise de Londres in Soho and a new initiative by Christ Church Kensington.

The latest effort by St Barnabas Kensington is part of the diocese of London's aim to launch 100 new church communities by 2020. French Connect is the 50th, marking the half way point to what is called Vision2020 – a plan launched under the former bishop of London, Richard Chartres.

The bishop of Islington, Ric Thorpe, told around 80 attenders at the first French Connect service: 'You are part of something that is growing in London. We are seeing new services for new people starting across the capital, from the reopening of closed churches to the creation of new churches on estates or in schools and cafes.

'Wherever people are gathering, we want to provide a space where they can come and find out about faith in Christ. I'd love to encourage you to keep growing, reaching more and more French people with the good news of Jesus.'

The bishop of Kensington, Graham Tomlin, added: 'I hope that many French-speaking people will come here and discover friendship, faith and joy. The simplest way to share your faith with your friends is by simply asking the question: "Would you like to come to church with me?"'