London: An evening with Tim Schmalz

Tim Schmalz, sculptor of the Homeless Jesus, will be speaking about his art and his faith with special reference to his challenging statue at Farm Street Church, on Thursday, 21 March.

This powerful sculpture, which is before the altar in the side chapel of Our Lady of the Seven Dolours depicts Jesus as a homeless person, sleeping on a park bench. His face and hands are obscured by a blanket, but crucifixion wounds on his feet reveal his identity. It has been described as a visual translation of Jesus' admonition "as you did it to one of the least of my brothers, so you did it to me."

The Homeless Jesus project originated with the Jesuits in Canada: the first cast of the statue is located at Regis College in Toronto. The most famous is outside the Vatican's charity offices in Rome, blessed by Pope Francis on its installation in 2016.

There are now at least a dozen casts in the United States, as well as in Dublin, Glasgow and Manchester. Westminster City Council turned down an application to install a cast outside Methodist Central Hall in Westminster.

An evening with Tim Schmalz, at Mount Street Church, 114 Mount Street, London W1K 3AH begins at 6.45pm on Thursday, 21 March. Admission is free.