John Jennings passed away at the age of 88. He was the founder and director of the Liverpool Simon Community, an organization for the homeless. Originally, Jennings was working as an inspector for the Liverpool Port Health Authority in the 1960s when he learned about Anton Wallich-Clifford’s Simon Community in London and his new approaches to help people on the streets. In 1966, Jennings gave up his job and founded the Liverpool Community, for which he used his own modest savings and £500 raised from friends, purchasing a shop premises in Fox Street, Everton. Jennings distributed sandwiches and opened a night shelter.
The Catholic archdiocese loaned a large house in nearby Shaw Street in 1968 and in 1971, a “house for homeless youths” was purchased. In the winter of 1972, after a request from a local Methodist minister, Jennings opened a Simon House in Rochdale. Furthermore, in 1973, the charity’s name was changed to Petrus. A night shelter opened in the crypt of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, in conjunction with Catholic social services that could accommodate 30 men nightly, amounting to 1,000 individuals each year. Additionally, in 1979, a second community house and a dry house for recovering alcoholics were opened.
During the initial days, the community survived on donations in kind from many sources, including a local bakery, the Little Sisters of the Poor religious community, and traders at the nearby Paddy’s Market. Articles were published in the Catholic Herald and the Liverpool Echo, and cash donations began coming in. The community was staffed mostly by young volunteers, who came for six months and worked for board and lodging. Despite the authoritarian and paternalistic era in homeless provision, Petrus residents were treated with consideration and respect, whatever their circumstances, sharing cooking and sleeping arrangements.
Though John himself was Catholic and socialist in belief, the community eschewed any overt religious or political associations. The ethos was communal and humanitarian. Jennings was mild-mannered, practical, and pragmatic. Many young volunteers found him an inspiration, with several going on to successful careers in the caring professions. He was born into a Catholic family in Liverpool, where he attended Yew Tree secondary school. Before working for the Port Health Authority, he had worked at a butcher shop and served for his country during national service with the army.
John retired from Petrus in 1990, and the various services provided by Petrus were absorbed by local housing associations. He continued as an organizer and volunteer in community initiatives, including the Drive Community Hub, Dovecot, and St. Dominic’s food bank. John is survived by 14 nieces and nephews
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