0:00:02 > 0:00:03Have more tea, Vicar? Yeah, go on, then.
0:00:03 > 0:00:04Vicars...
0:00:04 > 0:00:06Pillars of the community.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08Are we high enough yet?
0:00:08 > 0:00:11As English as tea and cake and cricket on the village green.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15- Nice to see you, to see you...- Nice.
0:00:15 > 0:00:16But times are changing.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19Would you like to pray now? Would you find that helpful?
0:00:19 > 0:00:20No.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24Congregations are ageing and faith is fading.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26People in this country do not go to church.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30So today's vicars are working hard to stay relevant.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32The safeguards that are in place
0:00:32 > 0:00:35are not catching people who are in desperate need.
0:00:35 > 0:00:36Father, Son...
0:00:36 > 0:00:39In this series, vicars from Hereford,
0:00:39 > 0:00:42the Church of England's most rural diocese,
0:00:42 > 0:00:44let us into their life and work.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46You are sent from God to titivate the house.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49Offering support to those facing eviction.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52- Where are you going to move to? - Don't know.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55And helping the homeless when all else has failed.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57You don't need your tent.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00It's all part of a vicar's life.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10Hereford diocese covers over 1,600 square miles.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13The majority is farmland and rolling countryside.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18At its centre is the cathedral city of Hereford...
0:01:18 > 0:01:19Morning.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22..where there's a newly ordained curate on patrol.
0:01:22 > 0:01:27I'm Matthew, I'm the assistant curate here at All Saints.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Father Matthew Cashmore was ordained two and a half weeks ago...
0:01:30 > 0:01:31Hello.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34..and is eager to get to know his parishioners.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36- Well, I'm Matthew.- Lovely to meet you.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38Nice to meet you as well. Do you work here often?
0:01:38 > 0:01:43He's taken the unusual decision to wear a cassock full-time.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45- Hello.- Nice to meet you.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Do you know All Saints at all? Do you know the church?
0:01:48 > 0:01:52The cassock is just this constant pull of "This is service".
0:01:52 > 0:01:54HE PLAYS PAN FLUTES
0:01:54 > 0:01:58It's being visible and approachable, people know that you're there
0:01:58 > 0:02:01and that they can come to you for support and pray,
0:02:01 > 0:02:05but also know that they can come to the church for mass at ten past 12,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08so wandering round the city centre is something I do a lot.
0:02:14 > 0:02:15At his ordination ceremony,
0:02:15 > 0:02:19Matthew swore an oath to help those on the margins of society.
0:02:21 > 0:02:22He's heard about a woman
0:02:22 > 0:02:26who's camping on a busy roundabout in his city centre parish.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30Hello. I've brought you coffee.
0:02:30 > 0:02:31Oh, right, oh thank you.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33- I'm Matthew.- Hello, Matthew. Pleased to meet you.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Samantha has been homeless for seven months,
0:02:37 > 0:02:40moving between different locations in Hereford.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43It must have been three weeks ago, something like that?
0:02:43 > 0:02:46- What, since I've been on here? - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50- Do you have what you need on here? - No, I don't.
0:02:50 > 0:02:51No, no, no.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54As you can see, I look a mess.
0:02:54 > 0:02:55There we are.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00By camping in such a public place,
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Samantha has acquired a certain notoriety.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07"You are hereby summoned to appear before the magistrate court..."
0:03:07 > 0:03:11Now she's been served with an eviction notice from the roundabout
0:03:11 > 0:03:12and has been summoned to court.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15I'll get there for about ten o'clock,
0:03:15 > 0:03:16cos I know what they're like.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18- Do you want me to meet you there? - Yeah, you could do.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23All she gets as she walks around town is negativity
0:03:23 > 0:03:25and people questioning her motives.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28So if I can hold her hand and offer her something different,
0:03:28 > 0:03:29that's what I'm going to do.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32I can be a friend. That's, like, the most important thing,
0:03:32 > 0:03:34and it's everything and it's nothing.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38I'll try and sort you out a phone today so you can,
0:03:38 > 0:03:40you've at least got a way that you can be contacted.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43- Thank you.- Would you like to pray now? Would you find that helpful?
0:03:45 > 0:03:48No, because if I ever have done,
0:03:48 > 0:03:51I tend to do it on my own spontaneously.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53That's good. Come to church tomorrow.
0:03:53 > 0:03:579:30am, All Saints. Come to Mass, I'm preaching.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59- Look after yourself now, all right? Hug?- And you.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04I think it highlights how close all of us are to just...
0:04:05 > 0:04:08..just dropping off the edge, and how easy it is to drop off the edge.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12But regardless of whether or not she comes to church, I'm there for her,
0:04:12 > 0:04:14she's in my parish and I will care for her.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28Homelessness is not only an issue in the city.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32Herefordshire has over 2,500 farms.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Hundreds of them fall in the Abbeydore deanery,
0:04:35 > 0:04:41an area of 34 parishes overseen by Rural Dean Nicholas Lowton.
0:04:43 > 0:04:49There have been years when it's been really touch and go for a lot of
0:04:49 > 0:04:50farmers around here.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56Farmers tend in a very proper sense to be quite proud people.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01They're not always going to be the first people to ask for help.
0:05:01 > 0:05:02COWS MOO
0:05:05 > 0:05:06In the south of the deanery,
0:05:06 > 0:05:11Steve Clayton and his partner Joyce have kept sheep and cattle on their
0:05:11 > 0:05:13council-owned farm for 15 years.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17But now the council is having to sell 43 farms
0:05:17 > 0:05:19to raise funds for vital services.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Come on.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25Steve and Joyce's tenancy has been brought to an end.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30It's very sad, really, very sad.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32And it'll be, well, you wonder, is it worth getting up?
0:05:35 > 0:05:36But there we are.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39We've had a good time, so...
0:05:40 > 0:05:42And we're happy with what we've produced,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44so that's the main thing, I suppose.
0:05:44 > 0:05:45COWS MOO
0:05:46 > 0:05:48He's putting a brave face on,
0:05:48 > 0:05:52but underneath he's feeling pretty sick and sad.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54We just don't know what the next step's going to be.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58RAZOR BUZZES
0:06:00 > 0:06:03The farm has been given a guide price of £1.2 million.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07Too much for Steve and Joyce.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12They've not been able to find another farm to move to,
0:06:12 > 0:06:15so will have to give up their livelihood and find a new home.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21Nicholas is on his way to offer support.
0:06:24 > 0:06:29Farmers aren't good at stopping the work that they're doing.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31The word retirement, for instance,
0:06:31 > 0:06:33is not really part of their vocabulary.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37And so to have that forced upon them,
0:06:37 > 0:06:40under circumstances not of their own choosing,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43is not always helpful, putting it mildly.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52Well, I never had you down as a tractor washer.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54Well, it's nice to keep them clean and tidy.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56NICHOLAS LAUGHS
0:06:58 > 0:07:00Are you going to have a cup of tea, Nicholas?
0:07:00 > 0:07:01That would be lovely.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Right, and a bit of cake?
0:07:03 > 0:07:05- Have you been baking all morning? - Oh, yes, all week!
0:07:05 > 0:07:07THEY LAUGH
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Steve and Joyce are in limbo.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14They don't yet know their leaving date,
0:07:14 > 0:07:18or how much compensation they'll receive from the council.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22How are we on the moving front?
0:07:22 > 0:07:25I've...started packing.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28- Where are you going to move to? - Don't know. Don't know.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31And you've got no idea when they're going to say,
0:07:31 > 0:07:33"Right, you need to be out?"
0:07:33 > 0:07:36No, we haven't heard a single thing.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41- That's outrageous.- It is outrageous. - Mmm.- Isn't it?
0:07:42 > 0:07:44We're on best china, meeting a vicar.
0:07:44 > 0:07:45- We are.- We are.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47- Bone china, I hope.- Bone china, Vicar.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49You've brought a nice morning with you.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52It's fabulous, it's really, really, really fabulous. It's good.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55- It's good, and the light up here is so marvellous.- Yeah, yeah.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00It'll be a sad day when we go from here, mind.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02- It'll be horrible.- Mmm.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07It will be, but things change, don't they?
0:08:13 > 0:08:14If you're in a place like this,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17it's very easy for pressure to build up when you're on your own
0:08:17 > 0:08:20and every now and then you do need to feel
0:08:20 > 0:08:23there's somebody to whom you can simply shout.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28And part of my job is to be shouted at.
0:08:29 > 0:08:30I'll see you Sunday, Vicar.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32- Can't wait.- But I'm not saying which Sunday.
0:08:34 > 0:08:35Thank you, Vicar!
0:08:43 > 0:08:44In Hereford,
0:08:44 > 0:08:47Samantha has disappeared from the roundabout overnight.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52Matthew gave her a mobile phone the day before.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Hi, Samantha, this is just a call to see if you're OK.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Hopefully, you're in somewhere and that's OK,
0:08:59 > 0:09:01but I shall leave it at that.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03If you need anything, give me a call. Bye, now.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10OK, I'm encouraged by that, because it rang.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13So hopefully she's tucked up in bed somewhere warm and safe.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Matthew's about to deliver his first ever sermon.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22Meeting Samantha has given him inspiration.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Today's sermon doesn't end on a fluffy high note.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29It's really tough to tell,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32but sometimes it's important to say things that need saying.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36It's a treat, really, to have,
0:09:36 > 0:09:37for my first sermon in this church,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40one of Jesus's perhaps more straightforward parables.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46Themes of judgment, the devil, and of judging each other.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50Let's take a real example -
0:09:50 > 0:09:52the lady currently camping on the roundabout
0:09:52 > 0:09:55not a stone's throw from this pulpit.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00When we gossip, when we share that nasty comment,
0:10:00 > 0:10:05when we take pleasure in sowing bad seeds,
0:10:05 > 0:10:08we are doing the devil's work.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13I'll be damned if I'll do his work for him.
0:10:15 > 0:10:16ORGAN PLAYS
0:10:19 > 0:10:20Now, we've all done it.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22I was guilty of it in college,
0:10:22 > 0:10:24and I remain guilty of passing judgment.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27The important thing is to remember, as St Augustine said,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30just because you were bad yesterday,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33just because you were in error yesterday,
0:10:33 > 0:10:36doesn't mean that you have to be in error today.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51In the Shropshire town of Much Wenlock,
0:10:51 > 0:10:53after a huge fundraising effort,
0:10:53 > 0:10:56the congregation of Holy Trinity Church
0:10:56 > 0:10:58has a newly restored lead roof.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05Vicar Matthew Stafford has invited the Bishop of Hereford to bless it
0:11:05 > 0:11:07in a special ceremony.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11You know what it can be like - "Oh, the gaffer's coming."
0:11:11 > 0:11:13And people can go one of two ways.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15Either they become a gibbering wreck
0:11:15 > 0:11:19or it's "Yes, Bishop, no, Bishop, three bags full, Bishop."
0:11:19 > 0:11:22All that, see, and I can't be doing with any of that, so, you know,
0:11:22 > 0:11:25"I'm Matthew, this is me, welcome to Much Wenlock."
0:11:27 > 0:11:30- And as the song goes, we are going straight down the middle. Yes?- Yes.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33- You're happy with what you're doing? - Yes.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36I'll create the impression that I know what I'm doing(!)
0:11:36 > 0:11:37Bishop knows what he's doing.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40- I'm affectionately known as the Reverend Wing-It. - LAUGHTER
0:11:42 > 0:11:44ORGAN PLAYS AND CHOIR SINGS
0:11:47 > 0:11:50Keen to get the Bishop as close to the roof as possible
0:11:50 > 0:11:53for the blessing, Matthew was struck by an idea.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59The cherry picker actually arrived yesterday, and when I looked at it,
0:11:59 > 0:12:00I thought, "Thank God,"
0:12:00 > 0:12:05because there was only room for one passenger and the operator.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08And, you know, Bishop's far more important than me,
0:12:08 > 0:12:10so, erm, he can have all the glory today.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17Unfortunately, the Bishop is not keen on heights.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20ALARM
0:12:20 > 0:12:21LAUGHTER
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Oh, my goodness.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27High enough yet?
0:12:28 > 0:12:29Higher!
0:12:29 > 0:12:30LAUGHTER
0:12:31 > 0:12:34- Oh, my goodness me.- It's OK.- All right.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Yeah, they're safe as houses.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38I'm sure they're safe, it's just that I hate looking down.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45Almighty God, whose Son, Jesus Christ,
0:12:45 > 0:12:47is the chief cornerstone,
0:12:47 > 0:12:50bless this roof
0:12:50 > 0:12:53and all who are found beneath it.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56Give shelter from storms of wind and rain
0:12:56 > 0:13:00and storms of heart and soul.
0:13:00 > 0:13:05We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
0:13:05 > 0:13:06Amen.
0:13:09 > 0:13:10CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Three cheers for the Bishop of Hereford!
0:13:13 > 0:13:17Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray!
0:13:17 > 0:13:19I do beg for your forgiveness
0:13:19 > 0:13:21for not making the sign of the cross when I was up there,
0:13:21 > 0:13:24but I was going to cling on for all I was worth.
0:13:24 > 0:13:25There we are.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32It's been a really good day, and to be fair on the Bishop of Hereford,
0:13:32 > 0:13:34he's always a very good sport.
0:13:35 > 0:13:40Well, it was better than I feared, but it's over now, so with hindsight
0:13:40 > 0:13:42it was fine, and well done to everyone in Much Wenlock.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Father Matthew has managed to track down Samantha
0:13:53 > 0:13:56after she was evicted from the roundabout.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00Since then, he's been trying to find her somewhere to live.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02DIALLING TONE
0:14:02 > 0:14:04We are currently unable to take your call...
0:14:04 > 0:14:08Ever the 21st-century cleric, he has put the word out on Twitter,
0:14:08 > 0:14:11and raised funds for short-term accommodation.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16It became apparent that I wasn't going to get any access
0:14:16 > 0:14:20to emergency funding to keep Samantha off the streets.
0:14:20 > 0:14:25And in the end, we've raised £275,
0:14:25 > 0:14:29which has meant we've been able to keep Samantha in a B&B
0:14:29 > 0:14:33for just over a week while we try and figure everything else out.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37Oh, hello, my name is Father Matthew.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40I'm the assistant curate in the West Hereford team...
0:14:40 > 0:14:42Matthew has also found someone from the church
0:14:42 > 0:14:46who has agreed to be Samantha's rent guarantor for six months.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49Now he needs a landlord willing to take her.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54But if you have anything else that kind of falls within that spectrum,
0:14:54 > 0:14:56or landlord that you think would be willing to help,
0:14:56 > 0:15:00I'd be ever so grateful if you could give me a call back, please.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03People are frightened of engaging with someone who has been homeless.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06It is really frustrating.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08I mean, there's 25 places that would be brilliant
0:15:08 > 0:15:10just on this one website.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13All they need to do to help her is accept her as a tenant.
0:15:13 > 0:15:14The money is all there.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16DIALLING TONE
0:15:17 > 0:15:19Oh, good afternoon. It's Father Matthew here
0:15:19 > 0:15:21from the West Hereford team again.
0:15:21 > 0:15:22Just following up, really...
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Samantha's slip into homelessness was gradual.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32Following a relationship breakdown, she was evicted from various homes
0:15:32 > 0:15:35during a chaotic period in her life.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39The names I've been called, it's been hideous,
0:15:39 > 0:15:41and it shouldn't be like that.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43Just cos you don't live in bricks and mortar
0:15:43 > 0:15:45doesn't necessarily mean it is a bad thing.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47But why are people so quick to judge?
0:15:49 > 0:15:52Samantha is a mother, but in recent years
0:15:52 > 0:15:55she's had limited contact with her children.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57That's the hardest part, you know,
0:15:57 > 0:16:01you look back on things that you've done, and...
0:16:02 > 0:16:06..you know, just good times, and that's what keeps you going.
0:16:09 > 0:16:10Sorry.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15SHE SOBS
0:16:17 > 0:16:19I just miss them.
0:16:20 > 0:16:21Hugely.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24More than anything else in the world.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30Samantha's due in court again today.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35After a string of minor public order offences,
0:16:35 > 0:16:39the council and police now want to ban her from the City of Hereford.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43I think there's probably good uses for banning orders,
0:16:43 > 0:16:45I just don't think this is one.
0:16:45 > 0:16:46But we'll see how it goes.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52So, whatever happens this morning, there's a lot of positive.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55I think yesterday, my coping strategies
0:16:55 > 0:16:57were literally going out of the window.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01Just think about the next steps now, what's in front of you now.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05You have got this today, who knows what the week after leads,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08but this whole thing is really about little steps.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11Cos you're like me, ten league boots or nothing at all.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14Let's go.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18At the end of the day, they can't impose this. I'm going to ask...
0:17:18 > 0:17:21Just don't get worked up about it now, just see how it flows.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26I know it's hard to put trust in people, I know it is.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35Samantha's case is adjourned to a later date.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40- It's good news today.- It is, yeah.
0:17:40 > 0:17:41That's really, really good news.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51In south-west Herefordshire,
0:17:51 > 0:17:54farmers Steve and Joyce are also having to face up
0:17:54 > 0:17:57to losing their home and livelihood.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59We don't know where we're going yet
0:17:59 > 0:18:01because we haven't found anywhere to go.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03We've had offers of places to stay with a bed,
0:18:03 > 0:18:05but it's not the same as your own,
0:18:05 > 0:18:07so we really don't know at the moment.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14They've managed to pull together enough funds for a deposit,
0:18:14 > 0:18:17but have had no success securing a house.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21We had our heart set on an ex-council house
0:18:21 > 0:18:24that had been on the market for three years.
0:18:25 > 0:18:26We made an offer.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32Somebody offered the full price, so we lost it.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37It's a London person that's bought it, for a holiday cottage.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40So they won't be partaking in the school...
0:18:41 > 0:18:43..or the church.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45We had to start looking again, then.
0:18:46 > 0:18:47Back a touch.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54Steve's been forced to send his cattle to market to raise the money
0:18:54 > 0:18:56needed for a new home.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02It'll be the end of a bloodline he's been breeding for 30 years.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Bit of whiskey, medicinal, to calm the nerves.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22When things go wrong, it's upsetting, isn't it?
0:19:22 > 0:19:25But it might turn out to be for the best.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27Who knows?
0:19:27 > 0:19:28Mmm.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40It's 7pm in Hereford, and Matthew's due home for supper.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45Instead, he's helping Samantha collect some of her belongings
0:19:45 > 0:19:46stored at the church hall.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48Here we are.
0:19:48 > 0:19:49Here we go.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Her stay at the B&B has been extended.
0:19:52 > 0:19:53ALARM RINGS
0:19:53 > 0:19:55She's now keen to get back into work,
0:19:55 > 0:19:57buying and selling vintage collectables.
0:19:59 > 0:20:00I'll give you 50p for it.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02No, I want...
0:20:02 > 0:20:04ALARM RINGS
0:20:04 > 0:20:0575p.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09If I don't keep it for myself, I'll give it to you, OK?
0:20:09 > 0:20:10These are pretty good.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15Catherine's making me sausage casserole for when I get in.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18That is mad, I could have sworn Winston Churchill was on that one.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21- No rush, obviously, but... - It's all right, no, it's fine.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23- ..if you could hurry up.- Yeah, not a problem.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25HE LAUGHS
0:20:25 > 0:20:27I don't know whether to take that with me or not.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29- What is it?- My tent, one of them.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31No, you don't need your tent.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34If you're a bloody idiot and get thrown out of where you are now...
0:20:34 > 0:20:36But I won't do.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39- As you know.- Then don't worry about your tent.
0:20:39 > 0:20:40Right, Samantha, let's go.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Helping Samantha is not just mission for Matthew.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51He too once experienced homelessness.
0:20:53 > 0:20:58When I was 19, stuff went all a little bit weird and wrong.
0:20:59 > 0:21:04One person held their hand out to me and, erm...
0:21:07 > 0:21:11..it was a bed for me and there was somewhere safe for me.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14And I wouldn't be where I am now if that person hadn't done that for me.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19That same person made it a deal of helping me, he said,
0:21:19 > 0:21:22"I'll do this for you and you've got to do it for others."
0:21:27 > 0:21:29And so a big part of this is about that, I think.
0:21:32 > 0:21:33Right, here we go.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Further north in Shropshire...
0:21:44 > 0:21:47..Much Wenlock's vicarage is getting spruced up,
0:21:47 > 0:21:52and for a change, the offer of more tea comes FROM the vicar.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57I know, being in a vicarage, you should really have a teapot,
0:21:57 > 0:21:59and I've got plenty of teapots, but, you know,
0:21:59 > 0:22:01you can't be squeezing a bag.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08Please may I see your working at height paperwork?
0:22:08 > 0:22:10Obviously in any good working relationship,
0:22:10 > 0:22:12there's the one that's very good at the gift of the gab
0:22:12 > 0:22:14and there's the one that does the work
0:22:14 > 0:22:18and Seb has worked exceedingly hard these last few weeks
0:22:18 > 0:22:19on our house, bless him.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21- Thank you. Look at that.- Look at that.
0:22:21 > 0:22:22"Fat and sexy".
0:22:23 > 0:22:26You are sent from God to titivate the house.
0:22:26 > 0:22:27LAUGHTER
0:22:30 > 0:22:32In a quiet corner of the garden,
0:22:32 > 0:22:35Matthew has a bolthole away from the building work.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40It means a lot, this, cos it's just nice to retreat to.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44We read in here, probably drink too much gin in here.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49The shed also once provided shelter for a young homeless man.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Patrick lived in my old parish.
0:22:54 > 0:22:59He was sadly evicted from his property
0:22:59 > 0:23:04and I'll never forget it, cos he came to my door
0:23:04 > 0:23:09with a tent, a packet of out-of-date sandwiches and a duvet.
0:23:10 > 0:23:15So for a period of time, Patrick resided in this very shed
0:23:15 > 0:23:18and I remember pleading with the system.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20I said, "If we don't get to grips with this,
0:23:20 > 0:23:22"this lad's going to be dead by Christmas,"
0:23:22 > 0:23:24and there are days when I say, "I wish I'd never said it,"
0:23:24 > 0:23:28because what happened on Christmas Eve of all days,
0:23:28 > 0:23:32he was found on an industrial estate in Telford
0:23:32 > 0:23:34and after I took the funeral,
0:23:34 > 0:23:39I was adamant that we would have a picture of Patrick
0:23:39 > 0:23:43up in the shed to ever remember him by.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49Every community has its issues,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52every community has those people that have the outdoor face,
0:23:52 > 0:23:54the indoor face,
0:23:54 > 0:23:57and I believe it's the duty of the church
0:23:57 > 0:24:01to respond appropriately wherever they can
0:24:01 > 0:24:06to meet people's needs spiritually, emotionally,
0:24:06 > 0:24:10physically, whatever, we have a duty of care to one another.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15# Will you use the faith you've found
0:24:15 > 0:24:17# To reshape the world around
0:24:17 > 0:24:20# Through my sight and touch and sound... #
0:24:20 > 0:24:23Near the Welsh border,
0:24:23 > 0:24:27Nicholas is holding a service for the deanery at Clywedog Church.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32In the congregation are Steve and Joyce.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36Joyce has been coming here for ever, which is lovely.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40Steve, as he himself would admit, is, shall we say,
0:24:40 > 0:24:42not quite so regular,
0:24:42 > 0:24:44but that doesn't matter.
0:24:44 > 0:24:49And the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
0:24:49 > 0:24:54uphold you and all those who you love this day and for ever more.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56ALL: Amen.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59ORGAN PLAYS
0:24:59 > 0:25:01- Thank you, Vicar.- A joy to see you.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04And a pleasure to see you, and such a lovely service.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06NICHOLAS LAUGHS
0:25:06 > 0:25:09The future is looking a little brighter for Steve and Joyce.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13They've had an offer accepted on a house
0:25:13 > 0:25:15and Steve has found some agricultural work.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19- Lovely to see you.- Thank you, Vicar.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21- Oh, you're lovely and warm.- I know, it's a warm church.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Anyway, as long as you're happy, that's OK.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25As long as if you're not happy, you let me know.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27- Yes, I will.- And if he's got anything to do with it,
0:25:27 > 0:25:28you let me know quickly.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30- Yeah, and what'll you do then? - I'll deal with it.
0:25:30 > 0:25:31You'll deal with it!
0:25:33 > 0:25:36Yeah, they seemed in very, very, very good spirit,
0:25:36 > 0:25:41which is lovely, because what they have been subjected to, um...
0:25:44 > 0:25:46..has been, no, not easy.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49And they seem in very, very, very good humour about it,
0:25:49 > 0:25:50which is excellent.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54Yeah, we're good. We're getting there quietly.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57I think we feel better after being down here this morning, actually.
0:25:57 > 0:25:58Well, yeah, that's right, yeah.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00- Yes. Lifted our spirits a bit.- Mmm.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03- Nicholas is so lovely.- Mmm.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12Lot number 3, for the assorted miscellaneous metalware,
0:26:12 > 0:26:14the vesture and cigarette case etc.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16I've got 10 with me. 11?
0:26:16 > 0:26:19In Hereford, Samantha's at an auction
0:26:19 > 0:26:20of collectables and antiques.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22Are you all done at £11?
0:26:22 > 0:26:23GAVEL BANGS
0:26:24 > 0:26:26Looking for a bargain to make a profit on,
0:26:26 > 0:26:28something which is quirky,
0:26:28 > 0:26:31different and is going to make me some money this week,
0:26:31 > 0:26:33so hopefully we will find something
0:26:33 > 0:26:35amongst other people's unwanted stuff.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39Ceiling light fitting there, what's your starting?
0:26:39 > 0:26:41£5 on the ceiling light fitting.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43£5? Any interest at 5?
0:26:43 > 0:26:46The City of Hereford ban has finally been rejected
0:26:46 > 0:26:48and Samantha has found some stability.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52I'm currently renting a room in Leominster which, you know,
0:26:52 > 0:26:54is a bit better and organised than what I was,
0:26:54 > 0:26:56and hopefully by the end of next year
0:26:56 > 0:26:58I'll be in a much more better position
0:26:58 > 0:27:00than what I already am now as well,
0:27:00 > 0:27:02so things are happy days.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Lot 207, two boxes of brass and copper items.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10When I didn't have nowhere to go,
0:27:10 > 0:27:14I didn't think that it was going to be the church that initiated help
0:27:14 > 0:27:17and, really, shouldn't have been, but they did,
0:27:17 > 0:27:19and I was extremely grateful,
0:27:19 > 0:27:20you know, because being a Christian
0:27:20 > 0:27:22isn't all about the religion side of things.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24It's about doing good things for other people
0:27:24 > 0:27:26and that's what I loved about Matthew
0:27:26 > 0:27:28because he wants to as a person,
0:27:28 > 0:27:30not because it's a religious point of view,
0:27:30 > 0:27:31and that's the way it should be.
0:27:31 > 0:27:348, looking for 9. We're all done at £8.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37Samantha spots someone she can help out.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42They make use out of the things that they find, and so do I.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45He needs a new home. He looked lost.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48I couldn't leave him here on his own, so he's coming with me.
0:27:53 > 0:27:54That's the thing about homelessness.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58You want to be normal in standing there and saying,
0:27:58 > 0:28:02"We can do something different, it doesn't have to be like this.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05"Let's try and put behind us the things that have gone wrong in the past."
0:28:05 > 0:28:07That's God's love in the world right there.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10That's what I'm here to do.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16Next time, Braunton celebrates harvest.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20Just going to make sure they won't fall on the vicar!
0:28:20 > 0:28:22Nicholas fires up a wedding crowd.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25- ALL: We will.- Smashing.
0:28:25 > 0:28:29And Matthew's mission to help takes him across the sea to Calais.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31Small acts of good change the world.