Haven For London’s Homeless

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 350, 3 February 1937, Page 3

Haven For London’s Homeless

LONDON.—A famous shelter for “down and outs'’ in London—St. Mar-tin-in-the-Fields’ Crypt—is to be remodelled at a cost of'£3o,ooo. The plan means more room and comforts for those who have no food and no roof to sleep under. In the past year 24,683 men and 1623 women found a shelter in the crypt at night. The relief committee of the church interviewed 3658 homeless and destitute men and women and ou these more than £2OO was expended, aud to men alone some 4000 articles of clothing were distributed. A liostel is also maintained and of the 112 persons who passed through in the year, 76 found employment. Every effort is made to ensure that the crypt is not used by the professional beggar or tramp. The Rev. “Pat” McCormick, one of England’s best-known broadcasting clergymen, and successor to Canon “Dick” Shepherd of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, has started out to collect 1,000,000 s. for the plan. There has been a church on the site for many centuries, one being mentioned in Domesday Book which was completed in the year 1086. Another was built in 1485 in the reign of Henry Vll., ano the one now standing was built in 1721, The crypt was extended when the churchyard was taken for a roadwax and building land, and was used for many years as a burial place.