HTB’s sister church St Paul’s Onslow Square is now offering overnight shelter to the homeless on one night a week as part of a local church initiative.

Holy Trinity Brompton has joined a coalition of local churches which provides food and shelter for a total of 38 homeless people every night of the week.

Scores of HTB members have volunteered to help with the project on Wednesday nights, welcoming guests, serving meals and joining in conversation at the tables.

HTB/St Paul’s joined the West London Churches homeless project, which is supported by six other churches in the area, last month – the day after a new carpet was laid as part of the church renovations.

Among the homeless guests were a young Hungarian couple Viktor, 25, and Anita, 20, who found themselves on the streets when Viktor’s construction job came to an end before Christmas.

Viktor said, ‘For the first few nights, we tried to stay awake and sleep on a bus or something, but then our money finished completely and we started sleeping in a doorway. We have been coming to this project since December.

‘Our parents do not know we are on the streets. They would be worried. They couldn’t do anything anyway so it is better that they don’t know.’

Another guest, Evania, said, ‘I have been on the streets for two and a half years. To come in and have such a warm welcome, out of the cold, is amazing. It makes me feel like a human being.’

The project operates between November and March, opening each night at 8pm.