Diocesan Annual Service of Thanksgiving

Saturday 3 October 2026, 11am

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.

Livestreaming

Please note that this service is livestreamed. If you would prefer not to appear in the livestream, please sit in the North Transept.

Collections & Donations

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

Cash donations may be placed in the baskets brought around by the stewards.

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.

Choral Eucharist for Black History Month

President The Acting Bishop of Southwark and Bishop of Croydon, The Right Rev'd Dr Rosemarie Mallett

Preacher Joseph Vambe, Church Relations Manager, Christian Aid

Deacon of the Word The Rev'd Ejovwokoghene (Ivan) Ibuno

Deacon of the Rite The Rev'd Canon Kathryn Fleming

Musicians Michael Chamberlain, Organ Scholar, Southwark Cathedral Choirs from Archbishop Tenison's School, and St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Wandsworth, directed by Chris Williams. St Paul's Drummers and Friends, Brixton Musicians from St Edward King and Confessor, New Addington

Introit

Freedom is coming — trad. African-American Spiritual

sung by the Archbishop Tenison's School Gospel Choir

The Welcome

The Very Rev'd Dr Mark Oakley, Dean of Southwark

Please stand to sing

The Hymn

Let us build a house Where love can dwell, And all can safely live. A place where Saints and children tell How hearts learn to forgive. Built of hopes and dreams and visions, Rock of faith and vault of grace, Here the love of Christ shall end divisions. All are welcome, all are welcome, All are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where prophets speak, And words are strong and true, Where all God's children dare to seek, To dream God's reign anew. Here the cross shall stand as witness And a symbol of God's grace, Here as one we claim the faith of Jesus. All are welcome, all are welcome, All are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where love is found In water, wine and wheat: A banquet hall on holy ground Where peace and justice meet. Here the love of God, through Jesus, Is revealed in time and space As we share in Christ the feast that frees us, All are welcome, all are welcome, All are welcome in this place.

Tune: Two Oaks — Marty Haugen (b. 1950) Text: Marty Haugen

The Gathering

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

Peace be with you and also with you.

We stand before the throne of God with countless crowds from every nation, tribe and language Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honour, power and might be to our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Bishop Rosemarie, presiding, welcomes the congregation and introduces the celebration.

The Prayers of Penitence

Human sin disfigures the whole creation, which groans with eager longing for God's redemption. We confess our sin in penitence and faith.

Lord God, our maker and our redeemer, this is your world and we are your people: come among us and save us.

For our inability to see your glory in all people and in all creation. Lord, in your mercy, Forgive us and transform us.

For the times when we remain silent in the face of racial discrimination. Lord, in your mercy, Forgive us and renew us.

For times when we have seen the ill-treatment of others and have not gone to their aid; when we have condoned evil and dishonesty and failed to strive for justice. Lord, in your mercy, Forgive us and strengthen us.

Absolution

May Almighty God, who is the source of all life and love, forgive you, open your eyes to the beauty of all people, empower you to resist inequality and injustice and affirm his image and calling in you.

All: Amen.

Gloria in Excelsis

Led by Rev'd Canon Prem Premraj and members of St Edward's, New Addington

Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest! Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest! To God be glory for ever! To God be glory for ever! Alleluia, Amen! Alleluia, Amen! Alleluia, Amen!

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to Christ Jesus! Glory to God, glory to God, glory to Christ Jesus! To God be glory for ever! To God be glory for ever! Alleluia, Amen! Alleluia, Amen! Alleluia, Amen!

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to the Spirit! Glory to God, glory to God, glory to the Spirit! To God be glory for ever! To God be glory for ever! Alleluia, Amen! Alleluia, Amen! Alleluia, Amen!

Tune: Gloria a Dios (Gloria Peru) — Peruvian traditional melody

The Collect

Let us pray.

Silence is kept.

Compassionate God, who sent Jesus Christ to deliver us from all manner of injustices and inequalities; create in us new hearts and enlarged visions, to see the image of God in every person irrespective of background, race and ethnicity.

May we be generous in our love of others as we work towards the end of misunderstanding, racism and injustice; that we may build communities of human flourishing, through Jesus Christ your Son 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

Genesis 9:8-17 Read by a member of Archbishop Tenison's School Gospel Choir

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, "As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." God said, "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.

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

The Gospel Acclamation

Please stand and turn to face the Gospel as the Procession moves into the Nave.

Alleluia. Your word, Lord, is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

All: Alleluia!

The Gospel

John 10.1-10

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

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

"Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly".

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

Please be seated.

The Address

Joseph Vambe, Church Relations Manager, Christian Aid

Prayers of Intercession

The text of these prayers is taken from SDBE's Collective Worship Resources for Schools 2026. The prayers are led by pupils from St Michael's Church of England Primary School.

Please be seated or kneel.

This bidding and response are used:

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

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

God calls us to peace: in God's justice is our peace.

Christ calls us to be God's people: in Christ is our peace.

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

Let us offer one another a sign of peace

All may exchange an appropriate sign of peace.

The Offertory Hymn

During the hymn, bread and wine are presented at the Altar.

For the healing of the nations, Lord, we pray with one accord, For a just and equal sharing Of the things that earth affords. To a life of love in action Help us rise and pledge our word.

Lead us forward into freedom, From despair your world release, That, redeemed from war and hatred, All may come and go in peace. Show us how through care and goodness Fear will die and hope increase.

All that kills abundant living, Let it from the earth be banned: Pride of status, race or schooling, Dogmas that obscure your plan. In our common quest for justice May we hallow brief life's span.

You, Creator God, have written Your great name on humankind; For our growing in your likeness Bring the life of Christ to mind; That by our response and service Earth its destiny may find.

Tune: Westminster Abbey — Henry Purcell (1659-95) Text: Fred Kaan (1929-2009)

The Prayer over the Gifts

Wise and gracious God, you spread a table before us; nourish your people with the word of life and the bread of heaven.

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.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

For where the human family is wounded by hatred and injustice, Christ calls us in his death and resurrection to embody hearts of change and share in his healing work of reconciliation.

By the working of your Spirit, hatred is overcome by love, injustice gives way to righteousness, and we learn to rejoice in the richness of our common.

Therefore, we give you ceaseless thanks, and join with choirs of angels and with all the heavenly host, to proclaim your glory in their unending song of praise:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed 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.

Jesus Christ is Lord: Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free.

You are the Saviour of the world.

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. Amen

The Lord's Prayer

Being made one in the Spirit, as our Saviour taught us, so we pray

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.

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

Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us. Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us. Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us peace.

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

Members of all Christian Churches are welcome to come forward to receive Communion. Gluten free wafers are available at the front of the nave. Please do not dip the host into the chalice. Whatever your faith or background, you are most welcome to come to receive God's blessing. Please follow the direction of the stewards.

Music During Communion

Something inside so strong — Labi Siffre (b. 1945)

Wade in the water — trad. African-American Spiritual

sung by the combined choirs of two Diocesan schools, directed by Chris Williams

The Prayer After Communion

Please stand.

Let us pray.

Silence is kept.

Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

By the Communion we have shared, may we be strengthened to further the cause of unity in your Church, That all may find their home and attain their true dignity as your children, And the world become ever closer to your kingdom of justice and joy, For we ask this in Jesus' name.

All: Amen.

We light our candles, passing the light from one to another, while the children sing and drummers play.

The Act of Commitment

Dear people of God, we stand in the light of the prophets crying out for justice and peace. God calls us to be a people of reconciliation, serving a world in need. Courageous people throughout the ages have taken the risk of standing up and speaking out against injustice and oppression.

This work involves risking ourselves for the sake of God's love and moving beyond ourselves in order to seek Christ and serve one another. We are all called to the work and ministry of social justice and reconciliation.

Will you persevere in prayer and fellowship? With the help of God, I will.

Will you proclaim the good news of reconciliation in both word and deed? With the help of God, I will.

Will you acknowledge and address the prejudices that keep you from loving your neighbour as yourself? With the help of God, I will.

Will you strive to see Christ in all persons, and value those with whom you disagree? With the help of God, I will.

Will you seek to mend what is broken by human sin and greed? With the help of God, I will.

Will you strive to speak words that liberate and heal and break the bonds of silence? With the help of God, I will.

Will you seek the perfect love which casts out all fear? With the help of God, I will.

Will you work toward dismantling the sin of abuse of power? With the help of God, I will.

May almighty God empower you to seek the common good, give you courage to overcome fear and embody love, and strengthen you in self-awareness and integrity, that we may rejoice together in the dignity of all people, and walk in justice and peace, to the glory of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Community Honours

Please be seated while the Diocese of Southwark Community Honours are awarded, then stand for

The Blessing

Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the faint hearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honour everyone; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

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

The Final Hymn

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father There is no shadow of turning with Thee Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be. Great is Thy faithfulness Great is Thy faithfulness Morning by morning, new mercies I see All I have needed Thy hands hath provided Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love Great is Thy faithfulness Great is Thy faithfulness Morning by morning, new mercies I see All I have needed Thy hands hath provided Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth Thine own great presence to cheer and to guide Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside Great is Thy faithfulness Great is Thy faithfulness Morning by morning, new mercies I see All I have needed Thy hands hath provided Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

Tune: Faithfulness — W.M. Runyan (1870-1957) Text: Thomas O. Chisholm (1866-1960)

Listen, Learn and Reflect

1pm, back here in the Nave, led by the Area Racial Justice Groups.

Download the slides (PDF)

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.

Southwark Cathedral

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