A taste of the Nordic and Baltic countries comes to Southwark Cathedral on Saturday 25 November when the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Porvoo Agreement is celebrated. The Porvoo Common Statement of 1996 was an historic event, where for the first time the Church of England entered into an agreement with Lutheran churches - in which members of each signatory church were to be regarded as if members of each other and interchangeability of ministers became permissible. The agreement itself was named after one of the places in which it was signed, the city of Porvoo in southern Finland.

Southwark has been the location of the Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish Seamen’s Mission chaplaincies for many years - and indeed they are now full and active members of Bermondsey Deanery Synod. Their chaplains and congregations will be taking part in the service on 25 November. The main event of the day will be a special service of Holy Communion, at 12.00 at which the preacher will be the Dean of Nidaros, Norway, the Very Revd Knut Andresen. Light refreshments and stalls of goods from the chaplaincies are also planned, and the day will end with a Service of Light in the Cathedral at 4pm.

Ends.