Next year will be a significant year for Southwark Cathedral as, in 2006, it will celebrate the 900th anniversary of the foundation of the Augustinian priory and the 1400th anniversary of the foundation of the original convent. As part of the celebrations to mark these anniversaries, archbishops from around the world have been invited to preach on Sundays during the year. So far, the Archbishops of Brazil, Canterbury, Canada, Cape Town, the United States, and York have agreed to take part.

Before that, the Cathedral is having a busy time marking the end of the centenary year of the Diocese of Southwark. On Thursday, 3rd November, there will be a special choral evensong, using the Book of Common Prayer, commemorating the consecration of Lancelot Andrewes as Bishop exactly 400 years ago. Bishop Andrewes is buried in Southwark Cathedral.

Andrewes is regarded as one of the founding fathers of the Church of England. Educated at the Merchant Taylors' School, his astonishing career included being Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge; Dean of Westminster and Bishop, successively, of Chichester, Ely and Winchester. All these historic institutions will be represented and take part in the service, which will be followed by a lecture by the distinguished Andrewes scholar, Professor Nicholas Lossky. Both the Evensong and the lecture are open to the public.

On Bonfire Night, there will be a firework display at 19:30 p.m. on the River Thames opposite Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and there is an exhibition at the Globe to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot. Few may know that Guy Fawkes was a servant of Viscount Montague, who gave his name to Montague Close adjacent to the Cathedral on the river side. Guy Fawkes lived and worked in the remains of the Augustinian Priory when the Montagues occupied it as a private house. After his arrest, imprisonment, torture, trial and execution, Guy Fawkes' head was displayed on a pike at the southern end of London Bridge.

Note to editors
Lancelot Andrewes helped to establish the fine balance between Catholic and Reformed traditions exemplified by the Anglican ethos which welcomes all people and respects scripture and sacrament. A noted classical scholar and linguist, he was fluent in 15 languages and five ancient languages. He single-handedly translated the first five books of the bible into English in what became known as the Authorized Version (King James') and wrote a personal volume of poetry and prayer known as Preces Privatae. His work was much admired by T.S. Eliot who wrote an essay in his honour and is in part responsible for the resurgence of interest in his ministry.

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