WINCHESTER Cathedral is putting on a special service to to reflect on experiences of homelessness in the city.

The service will be on Wednesday April 3 at 3.30pm and is open to all.

Stronger Together - Celebrating Shared Journeys will bring together diverse voices from Winchester’s homeless and the agencies working to alleviate it.

It is being held in the cathedral with the support of Winchester Churches Nightshelter on Jewry Street, Emmaus Hampshire at Bar End, Trinity Winchester at Durngate, West View House in Hyde and the city council.

The Nightshelter and Trinity in the 1980s and Emmaus all have their roots in Christian churches striving to help with the problem.

Canon Mark Collinson, Canon Principal of the School of Mission, said: "Jesus sometimes had nowhere to lay his head at night, so the volunteer Cathedral Close Pastors have been regularly connecting with some of the people who suffer from the issues related to homelessness in the Outer Close. They are our friends, and we value their presence because they are loved by God and all the agencies who work with them."

Rev Katie Lawrence, Cathedral Curate who has developed the service, said:"God identifies with all marginalised people, and promises to journey with us through life, whatever our personal circumstances. The cathedral exists in part to welcome and provide a spiritual home to all. It is also important to join together to grieve the loss of members of our homeless community who have died in recent years."

Michele Price, Nightshelter manager, said: “Every homelessness story is unique and personal to the person experiencing it. We wanted to create a space and moment to contemplate these journeys back to independence, and to celebrate the determination and synergy of the organisations working in Winchester to help local people find a home.”