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27 June 2005

Lambeth Palace Garden is the venue for a celebratory Eucharist to mark the Centenary of Southwark Diocese. On Saturday 2 July, the weekend when Southwark became a Diocese, 3,000 people will gather together to give thanks for all that Southwark Diocese has achieved and all that it will be in the future.

The day will focus around the Diocesan Centenary theme of ‘People, Places, Prayer’. There will be an opportunity for people to follow a trail around the Garden and to spend time in the exhibition tents looking at the work of some of the groups and Boards of the Diocese. For children and young people, there will be storytelling and a labyrinth.

Some of the Diocesan Schools will be there to entertain with singing and dancing. There will be a steel band and a 300-strong choir made up of people from all around the Diocese. The daytime event will culminate in a Eucharist at which the president will be the Bishop of Southwark, Rt Rev. Dr Tom Butler, with colourful processions and some 29 communion stations. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Dr Rowan Williams, who has graciously allowed the use of his Palace’s Garden, will preach during the service.

Southwark Diocese has links with three of the Dioceses in Zimbabwe and the Bishops of those Dioceses will be here for the celebrations. During the Eucharist, they will each be presented with a pectoral cross to mark the occasion.

People of all ages, from all around the Diocese, will be at the day-long event and many will stay on to join those coming especially for the Youth Event in the evening. Bishop Tom will welcome people to this event and then they will be entertained by Raymond & Co and Kato.

Sunday 3 July is the actual day upon which the church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie became Southwark Cathedral and to mark this there is to be a further day of celebration at the Cathedral itself.

There will be a Cathedral Centenary Eucharist which will be sung by the boys and men of the Cathedral Choir. Once again, the Bishop of Southwark will preside and the Dean of Southwark, the Very Rev. Colin Slee, will preach.

After this the party begins with activities including face painting, a puppet show, circus acts, sword fighting demonstration from the Globe Theatre, Pearly Kings and Queens, food from Borough Market stallholders, a Victorian merry-go-round and a jazz band.

The will be a joyous Service of Celebration of the Centenary of the Diocese, sung by the Great Choir of Southwark including the first liturgical performance of the winning entry of the Cathedral’s Centenary Music Composition Competition at which the Bishop of Southwark will be the preacher. Then at 4.30pm, 100 white doves will be released to mark the Centenary.

The day will draw to a close with a Solemn Eucharist which will be sung by the girls and men of the Cathedral Choir.

Ends.

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