Bishop of Lancaster sleeps rough to help homeless
The Anglican Bishop of Lancaster will be spending the night in a sleeping bag on the steps of Lancaster Town Hall to draw attention to homlessness.
The Rt Rev Geoff Pearson will join housing campaigners to help raise funds for a local homeless support centre.
The Bishop will sleep rough on Sunday with more than 80 members of staff and volunteers from Lancaster and District Homeless Action Service (LDHAS).
Funds raised will pay for food, clothing and showers for the homeless.
The Bishop is Chair of Fish, an umbrella organisation that unites faith-based organisations that support the homeless, and a new trustee of LDHAS.
He said: "I have become aware of the issue locally through the excellent work of local churches in Lancaster, particularly Christ Church and their night shelter, St Thomas and their Ark Project and the Priory with their Mustard Seed Project."
He added: "For most of my time living at Forton my nearest neighbours have been two friends now, Dave and Billy, sleeping in the church porch.
"Last winter they stayed out in the very cold weather. Dave caught frostbite and had to have both legs amputated."