Requiem Eucharist

Remembrance Sunday Sunday 8 November 2026 9.00am

Welcome to Southwark Cathedral

A Member of the Community of the Cross of Nails

Electronic Devices

Please ensure that all electronic devices are switched to silent.

Photography

Photography and video recording of the Choir is not permitted.

You are welcome to take photographs of the Cathedral but please do not take any photographs or videos during the service.

Hearing Loop

Please switch your device to ‘T’.

Posture

The instructions in this booklet are not prescriptive. Please sit if that is more appropriate for you.

Collections & Donations

At the end of the service, a collection will be taken for the maintenance, mission and worship of the Cathedral.

Cash donations may be placed in the baskets provided.

If you are a UK taxpayer we would be grateful if, before the service begins, you would complete the yellow envelope provided, since this enables us to claim a further 25% from HM Revenue & Customs.

Contactless donations can be made by selecting your donation amount and tapping the terminal provided by the stewards.

Alternatively, either before or after the service, there are several donation points in the Cathedral where you can make your donation, or you can simply scan the QR code, or text SOUTHWARK (Amount) to 70085 (one standard rate message is also charged). Thank you very much for your generous support of the Cathedral.

Please stand as the President, Canon Kathryn Fleming, Precentor, and the Preacher, The Rev’d (Gp Capt) Ian Brown OBE, Royal Air Force Chaplain, enter.

The Gathering

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. All: Amen.

The Lord be with you. All: and also with you.

The President welcomes the congregation and introduces the celebration.

We meet in the presence of God. We commit ourselves to work in penitence and faith for reconciliation between the nations, that all people may, together, live in freedom, justice and peace. We pray for all who in bereavement, disability and pain continue to suffer the consequences of fighting and terror.

and we remember with thanksgiving and sorrow those whose lives, in world wars and conflicts past and present, have been given and taken away.

The Collect for Remembrance

Almighty and eternal God, from whose love in Christ we cannot be parted, either by death or life: hear our prayers and thanksgivings for all whom we remember this day; fulfil in them the purpose of your love; and bring us all, with them, to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. All: Amen.

The Litany of Reconciliation

As we prepare ourselves to celebrate these sacred mysteries, let us call to mind and confess to God the sins and shortcomings of the world, and our share in what is wrong. We pray using the words of the Litany of Reconciliation of the Community of the Cross of Nails, of which the Cathedral is part.

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Silence is kept.

The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class, All: Father, forgive.

The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own, All: Father, forgive.

The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth, All: Father, forgive.

Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others, All: Father, forgive.

Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee, All: Father, forgive.

The lust which dishonours the bodies of men, women and children, All: Father, forgive.

The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God, All: Father, forgive.

The Absolution

Almighty God, who in Jesus Christ has given us a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, forgive you your sins, open your eyes to God’s truth, strengthen you to do God’s will and give you the joy of his kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. All: Amen.

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

The Collect for Peace

Let us pray.

Silence is kept.

God, our refuge and strength, bring near the day when wars shall cease and poverty and pain shall end, that earth may know the peace of heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. All: Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

Please be seated.

The First Reading

Wisdom of Solomon 6.12-16 Read by the Duty Verger

A reading from the Wisdom of Solomon.

Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for she will be found sitting at the gate. To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding, and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care, because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.

This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

The Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 121

The response is: The Lord shall keep me from all evil.

I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. R

He will not suffer your foot to stumble; he who watches over you will not sleep. Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. R

The Lord himself watches over you; the Lord is your shade at your right hand, So that the sun shall not strike you by day, neither the moon by night. R

The Lord shall keep you from all evil; it is he who shall keep your soul. The Lord shall keep watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth for evermore. R

The Second Reading

1 Thessalonians 4.13-end Read by Sue Reardon Smith

A reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died.

For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

The Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia! Blessèd are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God. All: Alleluia!

The Gospel

Matthew 25.1-13

The Lord be with you All: and also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. All: Glory to you, O Lord.

‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps.

The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

This is the Gospel of the Lord. All: Praise to you, O Christ.

Please be seated.

The Sermon

The Rev’d (Gp Capt) Ian Brown OBE, Royal Air Force Chaplain

The Creed

Please stand.

All: We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Prayers of Intercession

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ let us pray to the Father.

Please be seated or kneel.

The prayers are led by Grant Tripp

These responses may be used:

Lord, in your mercy, All: hear our prayer.

(or)

Lord, hear us. All: Lord, graciously hear us.

And at the end:

Merciful Father, All: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

Please stand.

The Peace

Jesus said, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.’

The peace of the Lord be always with you All: and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

Bread and wine are presented at the Altar. We receive a collection at the end of the service, but you can also donate by following the QR code.

The Prayer over the Gifts

Look upon us in mercy not in judgement; draw us from hatred to love; make the frailty of our praise a dwelling place for your glory. All: Amen.

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord be with you All: and also with you. Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right to give thanks and praise.

Blessèd are you, Lord of life, creator of heaven and earth, to you be glory and praise for ever.

For through his death on the cross, your Son Jesus Christ has broken the power of evil, and by his glorious resurrection has opened for us the gate of life eternal.

In him you seek the lost, restoring those whose lives have been shattered and torn apart. In the fullness of time, he will gather all things to himself, enfolding us and all who have died in war in his undying love.

And so we pray that we who have set our hope on Christ may come to the peace of heaven, there, with angels and archangels, to sing your praise for ever:

All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessèd is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

We praise and bless you, loving Father, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; and as we obey his command, send your Holy Spirit, that broken bread and wine outpoured may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.

On the night before he died he had supper with his friends and, taking bread, he praised you. He broke the bread, gave it to them and said: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.

When supper was ended he took the cup of wine. Again he praised you, gave it to them and said: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did, in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice made once for all upon the cross. Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation, we proclaim his death and resurrection until he comes in glory.

Christ is the bread of life: All: When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus, until you come in glory.

Lord of all life, help us to work together for that day when your kingdom comes and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth. Look with favour on your people, gather us in your loving arms and bring us with the Blessèd Virgin Mary and all the saints to feast at your table in heaven.

Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father, for ever and ever. All: Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

As we look for the coming of the Kingdom, let us pray as Jesus taught us:

Please pray in whichever language you feel most comfortable.

All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

Baba wa… Notre Père… 天におられる私たちの父よ… Nna anyị… Fader vår… Pai nosso… हे हमारे स्वर्गबासी पिता…

Padre nuestro… 我們在天上的父… Отче наш… 하늘에 계신 우리 아버지… Πάτερ ἡμῶν… اے ہمارے باپ

The Breaking of the Bread

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ. All: Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

Agnus Dei

All: Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world, grant us peace.

The Invitation to Communion

God’s holy gifts for God’s holy people. All: Jesus Christ is holy, Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Please be seated. If you wish to receive Holy Communion or a blessing, please follow the directions of the Stewards. Please do not dip the host into the chalice. If you would like to receive a blessing, please bow your head.

Members of all Christian churches are welcome to receive Communion. Whatever your faith tradition or background, you are most welcome to draw near for a blessing.

The Prayer After Communion

Please stand.

Let us pray.

Silence is kept.

God of peace, whose Son Jesus Christ proclaimed the kingdom and restored the broken to wholeness of life: look with compassion on the anguish of the world, and by your healing power make whole both people and nations; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. All: Amen.

The Notices

Please be seated.

The Act of Commitment

Please stand.

Let us commit ourselves to responsible living and faithful service.

Silence is kept.

Will you strive for all that makes for peace? All: We will.

Will you seek to heal the wounds of war? All: We will.

Will you work for a just future for all humanity? All: We will.

All: Merciful God, we offer to you the fears in us that have not yet been cast out by love: may we accept the hope you have placed in the hearts of all people, and live lives of justice, courage and mercy; through Jesus Christ our risen redeemer. Amen.

The Blessing & Dismissal

Please stand.

The Lord be with you All: and also with you.

God grant to the living grace, to the departed rest, to the Church, the King, the Commonwealth and all people, unity, peace and concord, and to us and all God’s servants, life everlasting; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. All: Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. All: In the name of Christ. Amen.

Please leave the Cathedral by the North West doors and the Millennium Courtyard.

Thank you for joining us. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Retiring Collection

The stewards will be on hand to collect monetary donations, gift aid envelopes and contactless donations. Alternatively, you can donate by following the QR code.

Notices

Worship

Services marked with an * are livestreamed on the Cathedral’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@southwarkcathedral2224/streams

Services marked with a † are only available online.

Preachers are indicated in italics.

Sunday 8 November • Remembrance Sunday

8.30am Morning Prayer* 9.00am Eucharist The Rev’d (Gp Capt) Ian Brown OBE, Royal Air Force Chaplain 9.30am Eucharist at St Hugh’s The Very Rev’d Dr Mark Oakley, Dean of Southwark 10.55am Choral Eucharist* The Rev’d (Gp Capt) Ian Brown OBE, Royal Air Force Chaplain 3.00pm Choral Evensong Canon Michael Rawson, Sub Dean & Pastor 6.00pm Compline†

Monday 9 — Friday 13 November

9.00am Morning Prayer* 9.30am Eucharist (Tuesday only) 12.30pm Midday Prayer with the Litany of Reconciliation (Friday only) 12.45pm Eucharist 5.30pm Choral Evensong

Saturday 14 November

9.00am Morning Prayer* 9.30am Eucharist 4.00pm Evening Prayer

Sunday 15 November • Safeguarding Sunday

8.30am Morning Prayer* 9.00am Eucharist Canon Roxanne Eversley, Librarian 9.30am Eucharist at St Hugh’s The Very Rev’d Dr Mark Oakley, Dean of Southwark 10.55am Choral Eucharist* Canon Roxanne Eversley, Librarian 3.00pm Choral Evensong The Rev’d Canon Deacon Frances Hiller, Honorary Minor Canon 6.00pm Compline†

A Safe Church

Canon Kathryn Fleming, Precentor, is Chapter Lead for Safeguarding. Any issues relating to the safeguarding of children or vulnerable adults should be directed to the Cathedral Safeguarding Officer (CSO) or Representatives (CSRs) in the first instance:

CSO: Neil Morter [email protected]

CSRs: Cherry James [email protected] Jill Tilley [email protected] Russell Silverwood [email protected]

Concerns can be brought to any member of the clergy.

Children and Young People

Children and young people are an important part of our Cathedral family and play a vital role in our life together. We would love to encourage your children to join one of our Sunday groups for young people.

Crèche

During the 11.00am Sunday Eucharist, crèche facilities are available in the Chapter Room for accompanied children under 4.

Junior Xpress

Junior Xpress is for children in Reception to Year 5, gathering each week in term time in the Cathedral and after a prayer and blessing will go for worship and activities before rejoining the rest of the congregation for the Lord’s Prayer and Holy Communion. Children are warmly invited to join Junior Xpress, especially if this is their first time.

Youth Xpress

Young people in Years 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are invited to join Youth Xpress for discussion and debate around Christian themes. Breakfast is provided. We meet one Sunday every month at 10.45am in the Cathedral Library. The next session is Sunday 8 November. Please speak to the Sub Dean for more information: [email protected]

Cathedral Listening Team

Would you like to talk to someone confidentially? Is something/one on your heart? The Cathedral Listening team are volunteers, who sit in the Retrochoir behind the High Altar after the Choral Eucharist on a Sunday, ready to listen to anyone who would like to talk in confidence. They are available from after the service until 1.00pm. If you would like to talk to a Cathedral Listener, please approach them directly or sit nearby if they are already occupied.

Gift Aid on Contactless

During the collection, our stewards will have offered you a basket or a contactless device. If you gave your collection by contactless, did you know that you can gift aid your donation? To gift aid your donations simply donate one week on the fixed giving points as you came in, perhaps make a small donation one of these devices and it will ask you to enter your details for gift aid and the system will automatically apply gift aid on any future donation with the same card.

The Friends of Southwark Cathedral

The Spring edition of the Friends newsletter is available on the Cathedral website.

Become a Friend

Still thinking of joining us? We’d love to welcome you. The Friends play a vital part in contributing to the future of the Cathedral and its missions. Membership costs from £25 a year. Join the Friends today!

Contact Friends’ Office

You can email the Friends: [email protected], call 020 7367 3724 or post to:

The Friends of Southwark Cathedral Southwark Cathedral London Bridge London, SE1 9DA

Giving to the Cathedral

We are encouraging everyone to join the Parish Giving Scheme. If you need any help signing up online or if you would prefer to have a paper copy of the application form please speak with our wardens, Maggie and Kristin or contact Canon Michael Rawson.

The Cathedral is keen to change to a more ethical and environmentally friendly bank and the move from many standing orders to one monthly transfer from the Parish Giving Scheme makes this aspiration achievable.

You can sign up at: https://tinyurl.com/bdzdpuhp. You will need your personal bank account details; the name of our parish: Southwark Cathedral; the PGS code for our parish: 370637001; and whether you are eligible for Gift Aid.

Are You New to the Cathedral?

We would love to get to know you, so please complete a Newcomer form, available from the stewards or contact the Sub Dean [email protected]

Praying for a New Bishop of Southwark

Bishop Christopher has now retired and work is progressing on the discernment process for the appointment of a bishop to succeed him and to build on all that Bishop Christopher has achieved.

Please join in the Diocese’s prayer:

God of all times and places, send us a Bishop who will lead us faithfully through days of rejoicing and nights of challenge, with prayer and Scripture, with love and laughter, with bread and wine. Send your Holy Spirit to guide those entrusted with this process. May they recognise the person of your choice, with ears that are open and hearts that are wise.

Make us thankful for all that has gone before, ready and hopeful for all that lies ahead, led by a Bishop whose ministry is a blessing to everyone in Southwark Diocese, as we hear the good news of Jesus and delight in the love of God. Amen.

Southwark Cathedral Podcast

Episode 31 • Joseph Vambe on Black History & Building a Just Future

Recorded live at Southwark Cathedral during the Diocese of Southwark’s Black History Month service 2026, this episode features a sermon by Mr Joseph Vambe (British Church Relations Manager, Christian Aid) reflecting on Black history, the legacy of slavery and the call to build a more just society.

Drawing connections between the history of Black communities in Southwark and the Christian promise of “life abundantly”, Vambe considers what it means to honour the past while working towards a different future. At a time when questions of race, migration and belonging continue to shape public life, he challenges the Church to uphold the dignity of every person and move beyond remembrance towards action.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

https://southwarkcathedralpodcast.podbean.com/

Weekly Bible Study at St Hugh’s

Thursdays, 7.30pm

The Thursday Bible Study at St Hugh’s, Bermondsey, SE1 3PT is inclusive, friendly and perfect for beginners or growing your confidence. Contact Bukky Omisakim for more information: https://sthughsbermondsey.org.uk/bible-study/

16th Annual Robes SleepOut

Friday 20 November 2026, 7.00pm

This year will be the 16th Annual Robes SleepOut here at the Cathedral! Please hold the date.

The Robes Project is one of the Cathedral’s highest priority charity partners. You can participate by signing up to sleep out and get sponsors to donate on your behalf: https://robes.org.uk/sleepout-robes/

If you would like to volunteer for the evening, please let Peppy Meunier know ([email protected]).

To find out more and find the right option for you, please reach out to Kristin Ruby ([email protected]) or Maggie Still ([email protected])

Robes Winter Night Shelter

The Cathedral hosts a winter night shelter as part of the Robes project, providing safe, warm accommodation on Friday evenings from January to March. We have a team of 40 volunteers who make it all happen and if you would like to be part of the team or keen to learn more please contact Neil Tryner at [email protected], one of the team leaders who is happy to explain. You do not need to have any experience of working with homeless people and we will provide support and training before you start.

We are always in need of volunteers to help cook dinner for 20 guests on Friday evening, sleep over on the shelter on Friday night and help cook breakfast on Saturday morning and clear the shelter and are looking for people who want to help with something practical to people in our community, are able to engage with people or happy to role sleeves up and do practical things like making beds up, moving furniture, cleaning showers or washing up.

Organ Recitals

Mondays, 1.20pm, free entry

9 November — Michael Chamberlain (Organ Scholar, Southwark Cathedral) 16 November — Michael Bonaventure (Edinburgh)

Supporting Mission Through Our Giving

Southwark Cathedral’s 2025 Mission Allocation totalled £27,921, which is being distributed to charities during 2026. Funded by 10% of the income received through planned giving, the Parish Giving Scheme and Sunday collections, these donations support organisations whose work reflects the Five Marks of Mission.

From responding to human need and challenging injustice to caring for creation. Scan the QR code above to read the full article and discover the charities receiving support.

We are now inviting nominations for the 2026 allocation, so please begin thinking about charities you would like the Cathedral to consider. The online nomination form can be found by scanning the QR code. Please ask the Sub Dean if you would like a paper form.

A Shared Meal in the Retrochoir

Monday 23 November, 7.00pm

Many are heartbroken at what is happening in the Middle East, and worried too about the rising violence against Jews and Muslims in this country, the rhetoric, and the breakdown of relationships. A beautiful meal has been arranged, with Jewish and Muslim guest speakers, to provide a different kind of space to be together. We will listen deeply to different perspectives, gain insight and share our own experiences in these troubled times. Scan the QR code to register.

Robes SleepOut Sponsorship

If you would like to sponsor someone for the Robes SleepOut, you can do so with the following links:

Junior and Youth Xpress https://www.justgiving.com/team/jxandyxsouthwark Mark https://www.justgiving.com/page/mark-oakley-2 Michael https://www.justgiving.com/page/michael-rawson-13 Paul and Peppy https://www.justgiving.com/page/paul-and-peppy-meunier-brock-2 Kristin https://www.justgiving.com/page/kristin-ruby-6 Mandi https://www.justgiving.com/page/msturrock

Become a School Foundation Governor

Cathedral Primary School is seeking a thoughtful, committed and community-minded person to join its governing board as a Foundation Governor. This is an opportunity to use your experience, judgement and values to support the strategic leadership of a Church of England school within the Diocese of Southwark.

Working collectively with other governors, you will help set the school’s vision and strategic direction, hold executive leaders to account and oversee the effective use of resources. As a Foundation Governor, you will also play a particular part in preserving and developing the school’s distinctive Christian character and strengthening its relationship with the Cathedral, Southwark Diocesan Board of Education and the wider Diocese.

What you will do

• Contribute to the school’s Christian vision, ethos and long-term priorities.
• Ask constructive questions and use evidence to support and challenge school leaders.
• Help oversee educational performance, safeguarding, finance and school improvement.
• Champion inclusive provision and the flourishing of every pupil, particularly those who are disadvantaged or vulnerable.
• Support effective religious education, collective worship, spiritual development and preparation for the SIAMS inspection.
• Build positive links between the school, its community, Cathedral and the Diocese of Southwark.

Who we are looking for

You do not need to be an education professional or to have previous governance experience. We are looking for someone who supports the Christian foundation and vision of the school, cares about the education and wellbeing of children and young people, and can bring sound judgement, curiosity and a willingness to learn. You will need to listen well, work collaboratively, respect confidentiality and commit time to meetings, preparation, training and occasional school visits. We welcome interest from people with a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.

Practical details

Role: Voluntary and unpaid; reasonable expenses may be available in line with school policy. Term of office: 4 years Location: Cathedral School, Redcross Way SE1 1HG Expected commitment: 3 full governing body meetings and 6 committee meetings per year plus a school visit each term. Closing date: 16 November 2026

How to express an interest

For an informal conversation or to request further information, including the full job description and person specification, please contact Canon Michael Rawson at [email protected]

To express an interest, please send a short statement by 16 November 2026. Appointment is subject to the school’s governing document, the requirements of the appointing body, eligibility checks and applicable safeguarding procedures. Cathedral School and SDBE welcome interest from people with diverse backgrounds, experience and perspectives.

Theology Book Group

Thursday 19 November, 6.30pm

The next meeting of the Theology Book Group is on 19th November at 6.30pm. All are welcome, but please let us know you are coming by sending an email to Sarah Kell:

[email protected]

The book under discussion will be Simon Critchley’s ‘On Mysticism: The Experience of Ecstasy’ (Profile Books, 2025), described by Rowan Williams as ‘a significant and courageous invitation to think again about the kinds of thinking that matter’.

All Souls Requiem Eucharist

Monday 2 November 2026, 6.00pm

If you would like to contribute names for the Commemoration of the Departed at our All Souls’ Requiem, do please use the sign-up sheets available at the back of the Nave.

The names of those who have died in the past year will be read aloud during the service, but all names will be placed upon the altar and carried to God in our prayers.

A Poetic Introduction to Advent

Sunday 29 November, 9.50am

Join the Dean on Advent Sunday, at 9.50am in the Library, for a forty-minute talk introducing some of the themes of Advent by looking at three poems together.

Pilgrimage Among the Cornish Saints

September 2027

This is an opportunity to follow the steps of the Cornish saints, who have such evocative names… These saints, many of whom were likely native to Cornwall, while others originated from Wales, Ireland or Brittany, played a central role in establishing Christianity in the area following the Roman Empire's withdrawal, fostering a distinct Celtic form characterised by ascetic monastic communities and missionary zeal. Scan the QR code for more information.

Cathedral Prayer List

We will begin the new Christian Year (Advent Sunday) with a fresh prayer list. All the names currently on the prayer list will be removed but you can send names to the Sub Dean for inclusion in the new list. [email protected]

Remembrance Sunday

Today, Sunday 8 November

We look forward to welcoming the Rev’d (Group Captain) Ian Brown from the Royal Air Force as our preacher at the 9.00am and “11.00am” services on Remembrance Sunday. The Choral Eucharist will begin at 10.55am.

Congregational Meeting

Sunday 22 November, 12.30pm

We would like to encourage more regular dialogue with the Cathedral worshipping community and members on the Electoral Roll (in addition to our Annual General Meeting). We hope you can join us for this upcoming Congregational Meeting which will end by 1.30pm at the latest.

The focus of this first meeting will be the fabric and finances of the Cathedral and members of staff and Chapter will share updates, followed by plenty of time for questions.

Cathedral Carol Service Tickets

The Cathedral’s full Advent and Christmas programme is now available to view online at https://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/visiting/advent-and-christmas/

As a member of our Cathedral Community, you can now register to attend either of this year’s carol services, taking place on Sunday 20 and Monday 21 December, 6.00pm.

Both services are listed on the Cathedral’s Eventbrite page.

To access tickets before they are released to the public, please scan the QR code and use the password:

CAROLCOMMUNITY

This code will expire at 10.00am on Monday 9 December. This is when tickets will be released for our other ticketed services and concerts over Advent and Christmas.

Autumn Parish Picnic: Thank You!

A huge thanks to the close to 80 people who were able to join us at the Autumn Parish Picnic in the Retrochoir on Sunday 25 October.

We are grateful for everyone who brought, baked or cooked food to share – a lovely lunch with brilliant conversation was had by all. Heartfelt thanks for all the volunteers who planned, prepared, set up, served, cleaned and cleared up. You made it all possible. What a joy to be part of this Cathedral community!

Choral Evensong & Lecture

Nicaea: The Fight, the Faith & the Future Friday 13 November, 5.30pm

You are invited to the Cathedral for Evensong together with our College of Canons on Friday 13 November at 5.30pm, and to a lecture by Bishop David Hamid at 6.30pm in the nave.

Bishop David’s lecture is entitled ‘Nicaea: the fight, the faith and the future’. Bringing to life the personalities, conflicts and theological struggles that produced one of Christianity’s defining affirmations, that Jesus Christ is of one substance with the Father, the lecture will explore why the Nicene faith is not a relic of Church history, but a living foundation for contemporary Christian worship, theological formation and the search for Christian unity.

Prayer List

The Sick

Michael W, Dee Dee HS, Justine M, Rob B, Andy B, Julie A, Chloe A, Sarah M, Cyril B, Jack C, Judy, Madeleine L, Carla S, Bryan S, Tom J, Margaret B, Eden, Lizzie-Ann, Immy S, Charlie R, Mary H, Janet B, Pauline A, Janice G, James C, Anne, Jude, Louis A, Jean P, Pam M, Shireen, Dinah K, Sarah R, Sally P, Sam J, Elizabeth H, Christopher KD, Santou BC, Caroline C, Paul DF, Franki G, Frances G

The Departed

Adrian Clarke, Alison Jones, Antony Zaccarini, Donald Insall, Phil, Harry Rimmer, Andrew Laing, David Callcott, Alfine, Clifford Blagbrugh, Sr Hilary, Nathaniel

Year’s Mind

Timothy West, Patrick Russell, Sylvia Paddy Hughes

Acknowledgements

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000.

All words covered by the Christian Copyright Licensing have been reproduced under CCL licence no. 223439 and livestreaming licence 145859.

The Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches in the USA: Scripture quotations from The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible © 1989 The Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Making Space for Love

with heart, mind, and soul

It is good to welcome you to Southwark Cathedral. Set on the south bank of the River Thames, in one of the most vibrant and diverse communities in London, this building has been a constant witness in a place of change.

The first church was built on this site around the year 606. First a convent, then a monastery, it became in 1106 the Augustinian Priory of St Mary Overie (‘over-the-river’). With Westminster Abbey and St Bartholomew the Great in Smithfield, it is one of the three remaining great monastic churches of London. At the Reformation, the Priory became a parish church, and it remains so for the people of Bankside. In 1905, as south London was rapidly expanding, the church was consecrated as the Cathedral for the new Diocese of Southwark.

The Cathedral has a momentous and significant history and has had links with many famous and influential characters including St Thomas Becket, Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens. It has also been a Cathedral for those who feel on the edges of faith or society, our welcome reaching out to all people in their beautiful God-given diversity.

Here, our Christian faith is captured in our vision to ‘make space for love: with heart, mind, and soul’. Faith requires our hearts to stand up for social justice, upholding integrity and kindness, and supporting the vulnerable and oppressed. It challenges our thinking, inviting our minds to be enquiring, honest, and generous. Faith also seeks to deepen our inner lives, with the arts and creativity, by sharing in the life of our community, and by learning the arts of prayer and attention. In Jesus Christ we see the human face of God, and our faith in him is our joy and our life.

We really hope you enjoy being here with us today and that we will see you again very soon.

Southwark Cathedral London Bridge London SE1 9DA

+44 (0)20 7367 6700 southwarkcathedral.org.uk subscribe to our weekly newsletter on our website