We visited the Cathedral to get an introduction to the CCJ Library within the Cathedral precinct; to get a sense of the priorities both of the Cathedral’s leadership, and of the CCJ national leadership; and to see some of the very special treasures within the Cathedral.

The CCJ Library, consisting mainly of Jewish themed books, and books examining the close links between Judaism and Christianity, is located in the Garry Weston Library on the upper floor of the new Cathedral annexe, built approx. 20 years ago.

The Dean, the Rev Dr Mark Oakley (picture above), welcomed us.  He spoke about the historic site we were visiting, with deep-rooted religious associations: thought to have been a convent in the 7th century, and known to have been an Augustinian priory in the 11th Century, dissolved without recourse to force in the Reformation; a post Reformation parish church; and in its latest iteration a cathedral for the new diocese of Southwark in 1905.     Formerly, Southwark was part of the Diocese of Winchester, with the bishop’s palace close by.

The Dean talked about Southwark Cathedral as a space for the vulnerable and the outsider, and referenced the Crossbones Cemetery, a paupers burial ground nearby, where the Cathedral holds a memorial service once a year for the estimated 15,000 corpses which were buried there.  And, more generally, how Southwark had encouraged and developed a spirit over the centuries somewhat independent of the authorities in the City of London, and consequently more open to outsiders.

He cited Mother Maria Skobtsova, also known as the "Saint of the Open Door", and  the importance of keeping doors open especially to the vulnerable, and to combat hate crime.

Dr Oakley talked about his own experiences of close dialogue with Progressive rabbis in nearby St John’ Wood synagogue, when he was a young assistant curate at St John’s Wood Church; and about a partnership between Christians and Jews in search of truth. 

He told us with evident pleasure that there will be a prayer meeting of Muslims in the very room we were meeting, surrounded by a library of predominantly Jewish wisdom.

For his part, Rev Nathan Eddy, Co Director of CCJ nationally, talked both about the CCJ Library…what might be done to make the contents of the CCJ  Library more accessible and widely known; and how the CCJ has pivoted, after the October 7th attacks last year, to combat antisemitism, and to raise awareness of the fragility of relationships in our society.

Our guides showed us some of the Cathedral’s treasures, including its magnificent nave and its glass windows, the tomb of Lancelot Andrewes, the Harvard Chapel, the Herb Garden.

Our thanks to Southwark Cathedral, who hosted us; to the Southwark Cathedral guides who showed us the Cathedral; and to Rev Bernhard Schunemann, who chaired our meeting.

Further information:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Skobtsova

https://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/about-us/our-history/stained-glass-windows-at-southwark-cathedral/

https://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/about-us/our-history/famous-people/