Choral Requiem Eucharist

For the Faithful Departed Monday 2 November 2026 6.00pm

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

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.

You can also support the Cathedral by buying your books from the ethical online bookseller bookshop.org and designating Southwark Cathedral shop for the 30% of purchase price donation they offer us.

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

Deacon & Preacher Canon Jeremy Clark-King, Treasurer

Choir Schola Cantorum and Lay Clerks

Setting Requiem Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986)

Please stand as the clergy and Choir enter.

The Gathering

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

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you All: and also with you.

We meet to remember before God all those whom we love who have died, whether recently or long ago. In this service we pray for each of them and for those who suffer the pain of bereavement and loss.

Christ calls us to share the heavenly banquet of his love with all the saints in earth and heaven. Knowing our unworthiness and sin, let us ask from him both mercy and forgiveness.

Introit & Kyrie

The Absolution

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. All: Amen.

The Collect

Let us pray for the peace and well-being of the whole church.

Silence is kept.

Eternal God, our maker and redeemer, grant us, with all the faithful departed, the sure benefits of your Son’s saving passion and glorious resurrection that, in the last day, when you gather up all things in Christ, we may with them enjoy the fullness of your promises; 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

Wisdom 3.1-9

A reading from the Book of Wisdom.

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. For though in the sight of others they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt-offering he accepted them.

In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble. They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them for ever. Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones, and he watches over his elect

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

The Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

‘It is the will of him who sent me,’ says the Lord, ‘that I should lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up on the last day.’ All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

The Gospel

John 6.37-40

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.

Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.

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

Please be seated.

The Homily

Canon Jeremy Clark-King, Treasurer

The Prayers of Intercession

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Silence is kept.

Jesus, bread from heaven, you satisfy the hungry with good things: grant us a share with all the faithful departed in the banquet of your kingdom.

Hear us, risen Lord, All: our resurrection and our life.

Jesus, Son of the living God, you summoned your friend Lazarus from death to life: raise us at the last to full and eternal life with you.

Hear us, risen Lord, All: our resurrection and our life.

Jesus, crucified Saviour, in your dying you entrusted each to the other, Mary your mother and John your beloved disciple: sustain and comfort all who mourn.

Hear us, risen Lord, All: our resurrection and our life.

Hear us, risen Lord, as we pray for all those who have died, especially …

The names of the departed who died in the past year are read out.

Silence is kept.

Give rest, O Christ, to thy servants with thy saints, where sorrow and pain are no more; neither sighing, but life everlasting. Thou only art immortal, the Creator and Maker of man; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and unto earth shall we return; for so thou didst ordain when thou createdst me, saying: 'Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.'

All we go down to the dust, and, weeping o'er the grave we make our song: All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

Please stand.

The Peace

Jesus says: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

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

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

The Offertory Hymn

NEH 327 (t.202)

Christ, enthroned in highest heaven, Hear us, crying from the deep, For the faithful ones departed, For the souls of all that sleep; As thy kneeling Church entreateth, Hearken, Shepherd of the sheep.

King of glory, hear our voices, Grant the faithful rest, we pray; We have sinned and may not bide it, If thou mark our steps astray, Yet we plead that saving victim, Which for them we bring today.

That which thou thyself hast offered To thy Father, offer we: By thy sacrifice, O Jesu, From sin’s burden set them free; Hear us, loving friend of sinners, Merciful and gracious be.

They are thine, O take them to thee; Thou their hope, O raise them high; In thy mercy ever trusting, Confident we make our cry; That the souls whom thou hast purchased May unto thy heart be nigh.

Let thy plenteous loving-kindness On them evermore be poured; Let them through thy boundless mercy Be to boundless life restored, And within thy Father’s mansions Give to each a place, O Lord.

Where the saints, thy throne surrounding, Join in the angelic song, Where thy Mother, raised in glory, Leads the great redeemed throng, Grant that we, with souls departed, May through grace at length belong.

Tune: Grafton, French Tantum ergo in Chants Ordinaires de l’Office Divin Paris 1881 Text: Latin 13th Century, Tr. R. F. Littledale (1833-1890)

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, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth, giver of life, and conqueror of death. By his death on the cross, your Son Jesus Christ offered the one true sacrifice for sin, breaking the power of evil and putting death to flight.

Through his resurrection from the dead you have given us new birth into a living hope, into an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.

The joy of resurrection fills the universe, and so we join with angels and archangels, and with all your faithful people, living and departed, evermore praising you and singing:

The Choir sings:

The President continues:

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.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus: All: Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life: Lord Jesus, 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 Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and with 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

Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven, 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.

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.

The Invitation to Communion

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Blessèd are those who are called to his supper. All: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word, and I shall be healed.

Please be seated. If you wish to receive Holy Communion or a blessing, please follow the directions of the Stewards. If you wish to receive from the chalice, please go to the point of administration after receiving the host. Receiving Communion in one kind is still receiving Communion in full. 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 come forward for a blessing.

Agnus Dei

Lux aeterna

The Prayer After Communion

Please stand.

Let us pray.

Silence is kept.

God of love, may the death and resurrection of Christ, which we have celebrated in this eucharist, bring us, with all the faithful departed, into the peace of your eternal home. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our rock and our salvation, to whom be glory for time and for eternity. All: Amen.

All: Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.

The Blessing & Dismissal

Please stand.

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

May God in his infinite love and mercy bring the whole Church, living and departed in the Lord Jesus, to a joyful resurrection and the fulfilment of his eternal kingdom. 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 the peace of Christ. All: Thanks be to God.

The Choir sings:

In Paradisum

At the end, the clergy and Choir depart in silence.

Please leave the Cathedral by the North West doors and the Millennium Courtyard. Please consider supporting us by giving using the contactless donation points if you have not set up a regular payment.

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

A Quiet Christmas

Wednesday 16 December, 6.30pm

We know that this season, with its assumption of universal joy and celebration, can feel especially painful if life isn’t going to plan, if you’re missing a loved one or struggling through darker days.

This service offers a safe space for honest reflection, with beautiful music to soothe hearts and souls.

Join us as we share the Christmas story in faith that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out”.

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