London SE1 community website

Southwark celebrates cathedral centenary with all-day party

London SE1 website team

Southwark Cathedral this Sunday staged a day long celebration inside and outside the ancient building to mark its first hundred years as a cathedral church.

Southwark  Cathedral centenary
The Bishop of Southwark with South London pearly kings and queens


Southwark  Cathedral centenary
Prunella Scales and Timothy West are regular members of the cathedral congregation


Prunella Scales and Timothy West read again in Southwark Cathedral the address presented to Edward VII when the priory church became a cathedral a hundred years ago to the day.

Southwark  Cathedral centenary
Edwardian characters in the cathedral's millennium courtyard


The reading, recalling Southwark's long history, was part of the Cathedral's Centenary Celebration service during which the Bishop of Southwark described the cathedral as now "standing confidently in a farmers' market".

Market stalls had specially opened to feed the pilgrims from parishes and the mayors of the boroughs within the Southwark Diocese.

Southwark  Cathedral centenary
The Dean of Southwark enjoying the party


The Dean, speaking during the morning Choral Eucharist, said that the completion of the Cathedral's Millennium buildings had led to an enlarged mission and that it was important to look forward as well as celebrate the past.

Southwark  Cathedral centenary
From left to right: the sub-dean of Bergen, Fr Marcel McCarron of St George's RC Cathedral, Southwark, Fr Joabe Cavalcanti from St Hugh's Crosby Row, the dean of Rouen Cathedral and the minister of the Norwegian Church in Rotherhithe


Guests from twinned cathedrals included the Dean of Rouen and the Sub Dean of Bergen.

The inside of the cathedral tower was decorated with party balloons prepared by the Sunday School and described by the Bishop as representing rising prayers.

Southwark  Cathedral centenary
Crowds mingle in the south churchyard after Evensong


The day ended with a release of a hundred doves to mark the next hundred years. The same white birds had been seen the previous day in Hyde Park as part of the Live 8 concert. At the cathedral they rose above the 'Make Poverty History' banners erected for the birthday weekend.

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.