Southwark Cathedral

Southwark Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, is an important Church of England building in Southwark, London. It sits near the south bank of the River Thames and close to London Bridge. This place has been used for Christian worship for over 1,000 years, but it only became a cathedral in 1905 when the Diocese of Southwark was created.

For most of its history, from 1106 to 1538, it was known as Southwark Priory and was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. After the dissolution of the monasteries, it became a parish church dedicated to the Holy Saviour. The current building mostly looks like the old Gothic style from between 1220 and 1420, even though the main area was rebuilt in the late 1800s.

History

The story of Southwark Cathedral begins with an old tale about a young woman named Mary who lived long ago. She was said to have started a place for women to live and pray, using money from a ferry she owned across the River Thames. Later, this place changed into a group of priests, and then became a special church called a priory.

Detail on the south porch

The first written record of the church appears in a book from 1086. Over the years, the church was damaged by fires and had to be rebuilt. By around 1220 to 1420, it took its current shape, becoming one of the first buildings in London made in the Gothic style.

In 1540, the church was taken over by the government, and later became the main church for the area. Famous people, including writers from Shakespeare’s time, were connected to the church. In the 1800s, the church was repaired and made beautiful again.

In 1905, the church became a cathedral when a new area of the Church of England was created. During World War II, it was damaged by bombs but still stands today as an important place of worship.

Other information

The cathedral is used by London South Bank University for its special award events, by Regent's College for graduation events, and by King's College London for important medical and dental events.

There are two other cathedrals in Southwark: the Roman Catholic St George's Cathedral Southwark and the Greek Orthodox St Mary's at Camberwell New Road.

The great Altar-Screen of Bishop Fox

Between 1520 and 1528, a beautiful stone screen was built for the altar by Bishop Richard Fox. It is about 30 feet high and covers the whole east wall below the window. Over time, the screen was changed and restored. Today, it looks similar to the original, with many details added back in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Some of the oldest pieces include carvings of angels, hunting scenes, and symbols important to Bishop Fox. Many of the statues in the screen were added later, showing important people from the history of the church.

Resident cat

Doorkins Magnificat, the previous resident cat of Southwark Cathedral

Southwark Cathedral is well-known for having a special cat that lives there. The first cat, named Doorkins, started visiting the cathedral in 2008 when she was a stray looking for food and shelter. She became a beloved part of the cathedral family and was often seen resting under a heater or exploring the church. Doorkins even met important visitors like the Mayor of London and Queen Elizabeth II. She was so popular that a children's book was written about her, and a stone carving of her was placed inside the cathedral. Doorkins retired in 2019 and passed away in 2020, and the cathedral held a special service in her memory.

After Doorkins, the cathedral welcomed a new cat named Hodge in 2020. Like Doorkins, Hodge has become a favorite and even has his own social media pages and souvenirs sold in the cathedral shop.

Cathedral choirs

The Cathedral Choir gets help from the St Olave's & St Saviour's Schools Foundation. The choir’s boys and girls come from schools in London and nearby places. Girls usually join between the ages of ten and eleven, and boys between seven and ten. The choir has six Lay Clerks and up to six Choral Scholars.

The Cathedral Choir played music for the TV show Mr. Bean. Some former choir members have gone on to do important things, like becoming organists at other cathedrals or working in politics.

A gargoyle on the exterior of the cathedral

The cathedral also has a Merbecke Choir for boys and girls who have left the main choir. This choir sings special services and concerts, and even performed for the Queen's Christmas Broadcast in 2006. The choir is named after John Merbecke, a famous composer from the 1500s.

There is also a group called the Thursday Singers, made up of local people who just enjoy singing together. They help with special services and Christmas events at the cathedral.

Organ

The cathedral's main organ, known as the Lewis Organ.

The main organ at Southwark Cathedral was built by Lewis & Co from Brixton and finished in 1897. It was inspired by an organ at Doncaster Minster. The organ’s bright and lively sound came from using low wind pressures, which was different from what was popular at the time.

The organ stayed mostly the same until 1952 when Henry Willis & Sons made big changes, like increasing the wind pressures and moving parts of the organ. Later, it was decided to bring it back closer to the original design. In 1986 and 1991, workers restored many features to how they were first built.

Famous organists who have worked at Southwark Cathedral include Starling Goodwin, who also played at the Ranelagh Gardens, E. T. Cook, known for his organ broadcasts on the BBC, and organ builder Ralph Downes.

The Harvard Chapel, in the north transept, was rebuilt with donations from Harvard graduates and dedicated in 1907. The stained glass was designed by the American artist John La Farge and was made in America under the supervision of Charles F. McKim, the American architect. The window was given by the US Ambassador, Joseph Choate.