You might remember Eddie, and at some point had a chat with him, listening to his stories of selling Wham T-shirts, his many plans for travelling North and his excursions on foot around Southampton.

Eddie was part of our community for about six years, often sleeping in the church porch, and 'grabbing a quick cuppa'. He'd also often sit at the back of church and listen to the services. I even recorded him saying part of the Lord's Prayer for one of our videos during Covid. 

He died peacefully in hospital back in March, with his sister and brother with him at his side. His friends and family, including a number of us from St Denys, gathered for a service at the crematorium a few weeks later.

Today he was honoured again at a commemoration service held in St Mary's Church, for the 28 people who had died whilst homeless in Southampton over the last year. 

28 people.

It was moving to come together with the friends, families, support networks, organisations and city representatives and to honour these people, to read their names and express something of their value and uniqueness. Bishop Rhiannon spoke of each being known and loved by God, and spoke of Jesus living a life where he met and restored people who were vulnerable. Paul Woodman from City Life Church, who arranged the service, reflected afterwards that 'this is the Jesus thing'. I liked that description of the service. The service ended with us all placing red and orange flowers in the memorial display to represent the lives of those we were connected with. I placed a flower for Eddie.

Afterwards, I sat with two of Eddie's sisters, Dawn and Annette, and we chatted, laughed and cried, remembering Eddie together. Memories of him coming and going at 3am in the morning, of him riding ponies and him giving away everything he had. 

I am immensely thankful for Eddie and the place he had in our church community. He could be pain sometimes, and he could talk for Britain, but he was kind, caring and full of life. Eddie's ashes have been scattered in two places: the Midlands (his one last journey north) and Canada Common in the New Forest. And his family are hoping to set up a bench with a plaque on it here at St Denys. 

And I plan to grab a 'cuppacoffee' and sit a while there, and remember Eddie, who changed us for the better at St Denys.