Southwark Cathedral is located on the south side of the Thames near London Bridge. The present medieval structure contains building elements dating from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century; although there has been a place of worship present on the site since Roman times. Unlike Westminster Abbey and other more conspicuous London churches, Southwark is obscured by restaurants, modern buildings and a raised railway line, which misses the church by only a few metres on its south side.
Southwark Cathedral. Courtesy of Rob Summers.
Encroached upon by so much external noise and action, it seems an unlikely place to find the typical meditative atmosphere that draws so many visitors into London's cathedrals. However, the obscurity and smallness of Southwark make it a good destination for visitors who are looking to explore a lesser-known medieval church without the press and shove of London's usual crowds.
Notable TombsJohn Gower's brightly colored tomb is the cathedral's main claim to fame. Gower, playfully referred to as 'the moral Gower' by his contemporary Geoffrey Chaucer, wrote in three languages and addressed his prolific body of political and religious poems to fourteenth century kings and leaders. His prowess with language is immortalized by three of his works which are boldly displayed on the tomb:
Speculum Meditantis (French),
Confessio Amantis (English) and
Vox Clamantis (Latin).
Shakespeare's brother, Edmund, is also interred in the church in an unknown location, and the cathedral contains a large statue and stained glass window to honor Shakespeare himself.
Gower's head rests on his 3 most famous works.
Bell-RingingThe cathedral also hosts an active bell-ringing society, which has placed highly in national bell-ringing competitions. The cathedral's bells date from 1735 and are rung for services and special occasions. Visiting bell-ringers are encouraged to join the society on practice nights and during Sunday morning services.
Church GroundsAlthough Southwark has lost much of its original land due to modern needs, it retains a well-manicured churchyard on the south side, which church members describe as 'an oasis of calm'. Despite the proximity to a railway line, the grounds are often full of individuals enjoying their lunch break or catching up on their reading.
Lunchtime crowd. Courtesy of Stephen McKay.
Opening Times and CostsVisits to the cathedral are free, but donations are encouraged. The cathedral is open weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm; weekends from 8.30 am to 6 pm. The church provides evensong service on various weeknights. The schedule can be obtained from the
cathedral's website. Guided tours of the cathedral and walks to surrounding historical sites are available for a
small fee.
