SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL |
The first gothic style church in London, with plenty of memorials and tombs
Photo © Mister-E (CC)
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Highlights |
Gothic Architecture
Norman Doorway
Nave & Roof Bosses
Shakespeare Memorial
Other Tombs & Memorials
Harvard Chapel
Pine Organ
Wooden Knight Effergy
Visitor Information |
The
Cathedral is open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday and Sunday
9am to 6pm. Entry is FREE, but a donation of £4 per person is requested.
Scrapbook |
Southwark Cathedral’s
great, gothic style building was designated as a Cathedral in 1905, but
stands on the site of what has been a place of Christian worship for
around 1000 years. The earliest reference to the site in fact, is in
the Domesday Book of 1086. The building you see today was built over a
200 year span between 1220 and 1420. It was the first gothic church in
London.
An aerial view of Southwark Cathedral
Photo © Kevin Danks (CC)
Did You Know?
Parts of the Doctor Who episode The Lazarus Experiment
were filmed at Southwark Cathedral. However, in the aired version only
the exterior of Southwark Cathedral that appears; the interior shots of
the story were filmed at Wells Cathedral in Somerset.
Norman Doorway, one of the oldest parts of the Cathedral
Photo © Loz Flowers (CC)
Inside the Nave
Photo © Wolfiewolf (CC)
An
important part of Southwark Cathedral’s history, is the heresy trials
held in the Galilee chapel in 1555, under Mary I, Queen of England. She
was not happy about the introduction of Protestantism by her
predecessor Edward VI, and was very active in reconciling England with
Rome. William Shakespeare also buried his brother in
Southwark Cathedral. Inside, there is a 19th century stained glass
window dedicated to Shakespeare – managing to fit in it scenes from
every play Shakespeare has ever written, numbering 36 in total.
Shakespeare himself is depicted at the base – reclining in a chair and
of course, holding a quill.
William Shakespeare is commemorated by a window and statue in the South Aisle
Photo © Wolfiewolf (CC)
This
splendid pipe organ was built in 1897 and would cost over £1m at modern
prices. The organ contains 61 stops and 3,248 pipes, ranging from 32
foot to the length of a pencil.
Photo © dumbledad (CC)
The wooden Knight effergy c1280, is one of only 94 similar wooden effigies in the UK.
Southwark Cathedral also has a monument to Nelson Mandela,
who opened a new cloister at the north of the site, where the old
monastic cloister would have been. The Cathedral is also used by some
universities for their degree ceremonies, and has a great tradition of
beautiful music. Its choirs are truly impressive, and are regularly in
attendance at the Cathedral – so you could try to catch a performance
on your visit.
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