JERUSALEM, Bethlehem and now - Abingdon.

Christians have flocked to far-flung corners of the world for centuries to go on pilgrimage, and this year a church in the market town is part of that journey.

Our Lady and St Edmund Church was selected by its diocese to celebrate the Jubilee of Mercy, and has decorated its door with a border of flowers to mark the achievement.

In December Pope Francis encouraged local churches to open a Door of Mercy to help people "discover a path to conversion" during the holy year.

The Diocese of Portsmouth, which looks after part of the Christian community in Oxfordshire as well as in other counties, selected two churches under its pastoral care to open doors at.

The first was St John's Cathedral in Portsmouth and the second was Our Lady and St Edmund, which was named after the diocese's patron saint.

Parishioners have bedecked the door with spring foliage to welcome church-goers, marking the Jubilee of Mercy which ends in November.

Richard Budgen, part of the church's clergy, said: "The Year of Mercy concentrates on the absolute mercy of God. You can come on pilgrimage and pass through the door, be welcomed and say prayers or go to confession. We are getting a lot of people coming to Abingdon from different parishes."

He said assistant priest Father Phil Carroll, pictured, has been organising visits from Christians across the country.