London SE1 community website

Church holds service at Crossbones to acknowledge treatment of outcasts

London SE1 website team

The Dean of Southwark led an act of 'regret, remembrance and restoration' at Crossbones Graveyard on Sunday to remember the outcasts whose remains lie in the burial ground.

The Dean of Southwark Andrew Nunn
The Dean of Southwark used holy water and incense during the short service

Thousands of people – especially those on the margins of society including prostitutes from Bankside's brothels – are thought to be buried at Crossbones, which continued to accept new burials until 1853.

The ceremony – held by Southwark Cathedral each year since 2015 on the nearest Sunday to the feast of St Mary Magdalene – is intended to recognise the historical role of the church in licensing prostitution on Bankside, and to acknowledge that Christian burial had been denied to some outcasts from society.

This year's service went ahead with limited capacity and social distancing measures in place.

Last month Southwark councillors approved plans for the redevelopment of the Transport for London-owned land adjacent to Crossbones Garden.

As part of the redevelopment the garden will be improved and open to the public for longer hours.

The SE1 website is supported by people like you
We are part of
Independent Community News Network
Email newsletter

For the latest local news and events direct to your inbox every Monday, you need our weekly email newsletter SE1 Direct.

Archive
News archive from February 1999 to January 2001
Got a story for us?
Contact us with your tip-offs and story ideas.