Southwark Cathedral
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Southwark Cathedral,[1] in Southwark, London, lies on the south bank of the River Thames close to London Bridge.
It is the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark. It has been a place of Christian worship for over 1,000 years, but a cathedral only since 1905. The present building is mainly Gothic, from 1220 to 1420.
The main railway line from London Bridge station to Cannon Street station passes close to the cathedral, blocking the view from the south side. Borough Market and the Hall of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of Glass by the river are close by.
History
Saxon and medieval
The earliest reference to the site was in the Domesday Book survey of 1086. The 'Minster' of Southwark seems to be under the control of Bishop Odo of Bayeux (William the Conqueror's half-brother). Its early history is obscure. A Saxon minster (a teaching church) served a south Thames area. In 1106, Henry I's reign, the latter became an Augustinian Priory: Norman stonework can still be seen, and Thomas Becket preached here before departing to Canterbury, days before his murder in 1170.
Architecture
The church is the oldest Gothic church building in London, built from 1220 to 1420. It is one of the smallest cathedrals, which is because it was not built as a cathedral, but as a Priory chapel.
Choir
The cathedral has three choirs, The main Cathedral Choir is supported financially by the St Olave's & St Saviour's Schools Foundation. They were two parochial schools set up in the 1560s, and still hold their annual services here as their 'foundation' church.[2]
Southwark Cathedral Media
Decoration above the porch on the southern side of Southwark Cathedral.
The 15th-century church monument to the poet John Gower. Unusually, the polychrome paintings on it have been kept renewed.
The tower and east end of the cathedral, restored by George Gwilt the Younger in the 19th century
Southwark Cathedral floodlit, with The Shard behind it.
Coat of arms of Southwark Cathedral, officially granted in its current form in 2000. The cross lozengy is taken from the arms of the Diocese of Southwark (albeit with a different colour scheme), and stands for the cathedral's dedication to St Saviour. The white lily in the canton stands for the cathedral's dedication to St Mary Overie.
Flag of Southwark Cathedral, based on its coat of arms, usually flown from the cathedral tower.
Doorkins Magnificat, the previous resident cat of Southwark Cathedral
Hodge, the current resident cat
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