Diocesan Press Release

Hands Across the River

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10 September 1998

The new Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Tom Butler, met the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, Bishop of London at the centre of London Bridge today. The meeting symbolised their friendship and common mission.

The Bishop of London presented his new neighbour with a handsome copy of an ancient icon of Christ Pantocrator (Christ the Lord of the Universe), from an original at St Catherine's Monastery, in Sinai. As they met he said, "I heard the news of Bishop Tom Butler's appointment to Southwark with delight, and I look forward to working with him closely. It is high time we learned to see ourselves as one community relating to London as a whole, and the river must bring us together rather than divide us."

PHOTOGRAPHS of the meeting are available from Paul Vicente, 0467 771931.

REMINDER ...

The Bishop of Southwark will be on the river on Saturday 12 September, when he travels to his enthronement by launch from Lambeth Palace to London Bridge City Pier, accompanied by his wife Barbara. He will be met at 2.15 pm by the Bishop of Croydon and the Bishop of Woolwich, and the Rural Deans and Lay Chairs of the deaneries of the Diocese. Before continuing to Southwark Cathedral the party will walk through Hays Galleria, where the Bishop will stop and talk to people among the shops and stalls. An Oyster and Seafoods Fair is scheduled in the Galleria that weekend.

On the following day, Sunday 13 September, the Bishop will meet many other people from the Diocese at a Service of Welcome at the Cathedral at 4.00 pm. At 3.30 pm a marching band will lead a procession of parish banners from London Bridge City Pier to the Cathedral.

Ends.