140303 Malcolm Johnson 31

The Reverend Malcolm Johnson, now retired but who ran the St Botolph’s Crypt wet shelter in the 1970s and ’80s.

The crypt of this east end church was opened to all comers on weekday evenings. Drinkers and drug users were as welcome as anyone else and there was no restriction on their consumption. Filthy, noisy, smelly and sometimes violent the crypt was non judgemental and provided food, warmth and medical support for many years under Malcolm Johnson’s management. After he retired the money was squandered and the crypt closed.