Press Release

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The Queen and Prince Philip at Southwark Cathedral

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4 January 2000

The Cathedral entrance was swathed in flowers to greet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh as they arrived at Southwark Cathedral for a Vigil of Prayer for the New Millennium. They were greeted by the Provost, the Very Rev Colin Slee, who then presented the Bishop, the Rt Rev Dr Tom Butler, his Chaplain, the Rev Dr Jane Steen and members of the Cathedral Chapter to Her Majesty.

During the Service the Queen lit a special candle which will burn in the Cathedral throughout this Millennium year. Inscribed on it are the words which King George VI used in his Christmas/New Year address in 1939/40: 

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: Give me a light that I may go safely into the unknown. And he replied: Go out into the darkness And put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light And safer than a known way. (M Louise Haskins).

The choir meanwhile sang a new setting of the words by Piers Maxim.

After the service the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh met members of the congregation. Among them were 100 year old Esther Sutton, a resident of The Borough, the Ven Richard Bird, recently retired Archdeacon of Lambeth and Nathan Stone who was to be eight on New Year's Day.

The Provost said of the occasion: "Both Southwark Cathedral and its churchyard were teeming with people throughout New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The visit of Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip and their recognition of the role of this ancient church in the midst of an area of unparalleled history, its astonishing regeneration and hope, delighted us.

"We were also enormously glad that Her Majesty chose to visit the Crisis cold weather shelter close to the Cathedral on her way here.

"The Cathedral was filled with people throughout the entire evening, many hundreds of whom stayed for the Eucharist finishing just before midnight. They came 'with intent' to say their prayers and showed that it was not simply a secular date-change but a spiritual event. We were glad to respond."

Ends

For further information contact: 

Diocesan Communications Officer
Tel: 020-7939 9400
Mobile: 07831-694021
Fax: 020-7939 9468