Archbishop Desmond Tutu led the congregation at Southwark Cathedral this morning in applause for all who demonstrated and prayed for South Africa during its apartheid days. In his sermon at the 11.00 am Choral Eucharist he spoke of the amazing generosity and forgiveness shown by his fellow countrymen and women before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. His hearers clapped his words but he insisted they applaud themselves and fellow supporters of his people in their time of struggle.

In visiting the Cathedral the Archbishop was following closely on the heels of Dr Nelson Mandela who dedicated a room there to Desmond Tutu only last month.  The Archbishop, who is seriously ill, decided at a late stage to come to Britain for the end of the Celebrate South Africa festival and to return to the Cathedral where he launched the appeal for funding in April 1999.

The Dean of Southwark, the Very Rev Colin Slee, presented him with a cheque for £6,300 which was taken in the collection when Dr Mandela opened the Millennium development on April 28. The money was designated for St George's Cathedral, Cape Town, to support their AIDS project and their West window commemorating South Africa's freedom. The Dean also presented the Archbishop and Mrs Tutu, and the High Commissioner, Ms Cheryl Carolus, with pottery mugs, replicas of Delftware made at Southwark in 1640.

The Dean said: "It is a real joy that Archbishop Tutu came to see us again and stimulate us to new energy in living the Christian message. Receiving these two great South Africans in the space of a month is a huge honour for Southwark Cathedral."

Ends.

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