CLERGY and churchgoers from Great Malvern Priory are planning a major community initiative.

They plan to visit every home in the parish over the next 12 months. The Rev, Ian Spencer, curate at the Priory, said: "We intend simply to listen and offer what we hear in prayer because we believe God cares deeply about everyone's troubles and joys, and answers prayer."

Every home will receive a letter, followed a few days later by the visit. If people do not want a visit, there is a phone number to call.

Priory vicar John Barr said: "Many people visit the Priory and find it a place of peace and calm. Often they write prayers in our Prayer Request Book, and we always pray these at the 9am service each day. Although everyone in the parish is welcome to this short service, many can't make it, so we thought we'd go out and offer people the chance to tell us what's important to them, and we can include it in our prayers".

The visits will begin in June, and visitors will carry ID cards including a number residents can call to confirm their identity.