TheBRIDGE....Centenary Special Edition - July 2005 It was Southwark Diocese’s 100th birthday on the weekend of 2 and 3 July 2005. The events in Lambeth Palace Gardens on Saturday and at the Cathedral and in its grounds on Sunday were a wonderful celebration of all that Southwark has been and is. In this commemorative edition of the Bridge we’ll try to give you a flavour of the Diocese and its history and the celerations to mark the centenary. A Century of People, Places and Prayer The the ‘Bishops Appeal for 6th Bishop of becoming Bishop of 9th Bishop of Clergy Stipends’ raising Newcastle for eight years, 9th Bishop of The Area Diocesan £70,000 in five years to Southwark returning to Southwark as Southwark ensure that clergy were paid Bishop in 1980. During his Bishops Bishops adequate stipends. He also episcopate (in 1985) the parts raised £100,000 so that 25 of Croydon in Canterbury …today There have been just nine churches could be built to Diocese joined Southwark. Bishops in the hundred years mark the 25th year of the Bishop Ronnie developed the The Bishop of Croydon - since the Diocese of Diocese and enhanced the suffragan system giving the Rt Rev Nick Baines - Southwark began. Each Cathedral. He was the only greater autonomy to the came to Southwark Diocese contributed to the Bishop of Southwark to Bishops of Croydon, in February 2000 as establishment and become an Archbishop (York Kingston and Woolwich. He Archdeacon of Lambeth, development of our 1942-55). was the chairman of the having previously been Vicar Diocese…. Social Policy Committee of of Rothley and Rural Dean of The 1st Diocesan 4th Bishop of the General Synod Board of Goscote, in the Diocese of Southwark Social Responsibility (1986- Leicester. He was Bishop of 90), during which the consecrated Bishop of Southwark Diocese negotiated with the Croydon in May 2003. Charity Commissioners the He has continued his interest sale of land at low rates, to in youth work as Chair of the the Southwark Diocesan Diocesan Children & Youth Housing Association, to Policy Group. Other interests include shaping the church to Mervyn Stockwood (1959 – provide low-cost housing. Thomas Butler (1998 - ) 1980) is the longest serving Before his retirement, he was face the challenges and came to Southwark as opportunities of the twenty Bishop of Southwark to date heavily involved in the Diocesan in 1998 having and probably the most movement to ordain women. first century, clergy previously been Area Bishop development, ecumenism and remembered and flamboyant! of Willesden and Bishop of mission to people outside the In his time, the Diocese 8th Bishop of Leicester. church. began to tackle many Active at national and Southwark He was appointed a Director different issues and to be international level, he chaired of Ecclesiastical Insurance in involved in initiatives that the follow-up to ‘Faith in the developed both lay and 2002. For many years he has City’, the controversial contributed regularly to ordained ministry in exciting ‘Staying in the City’ Report. ways. He appointed John Pause for Thought on Radio Chairman of the General 2 and has published a Robinson as Bishop of Synod Board of Mission from Richard Parsons (1932 – number of books. Edward Talbot (1905-1911) Woolwich triggering the 1995 until 2001, he is now 1942) was a gentle and polite The Bishop of Kingston - was Bishop of Rochester for phenomenon known as Vice Chair, Public Affairs, of man, with a passion for the Rt Rev Dr Richard ten years before becoming the ‘South Bank Religion’ which the Mission & Public Affairs education - building both Cheetham - became Bishop first Bishop of the Diocese was talked about throughout Council. He chairs the schools and churches - and of Kingston in 2002, having which he fought to establish. the Church of England. He Governors of Ripon College, for alleviating the housing been the Archdeacon of St He also helped prepare the also appointed Robinson to Cuddesdon. problems caused by Albans and Vicar of St church of St Saviour’s pioneer the Southwark He served as the General population growth and later Augustine of Canterbury, Church for its new role as Ordination Course; initiated Synod representative on the the bombing during the Limbury, Luton in the Southwark Cathedfral. what was later to become the Inner Cities Religious Second World War. Although Diocese of St Albans and was Area Scheme; reviewed Council, an initiative set up he wasn’t able to build Rural Dean of Luton from 2nd Bishop of Diocesan administration by the Department of the housing, he brought the issue 1995 –1998. costs; caused clergy stipends Environment, until 2001 and Southwark to public attention. In September 2004 he to be increased – though less since mid-2003 has Hubert Burge (1911 – 1919) Robert (Roy) Williamson published a book on his than he would have liked - represented the Church of worked hard to ensure that 5th Bishop of (1991-1997), originally from special interest and the and is remembered as a England on the Central there were enough Northern Ireland, began his subject of his PhD, Bishop who always had time Committee of the World subscriptions raised to Southwark long ministry as a London ‘Collective Worship Issues & for his clergy and senior laity. Council of Churches. establish and develop the City Missioner, in Opportunities’. He was an He entered the House of various organisations of the Southwark. Some years later Oxford Hockey Blue and an 7th Bishop of Lords in 1997. new Diocese. he returned to the Diocese as u-19 player for England and Southwark Bishop after seven years as Bishop Tom chairs the he still plays hockey, squash 3rd Bishop of Bishop of Bradford. Bishop Churches Media Council and and tennis regularly. Other Southwark Roy was the first Diocesan to the Inter Faith Network. interests include “cinema, work with the new Area He has been the prime mover theatre and walking.” Cyril Garbett (1919 –1932) behind the Report into scheme. It was during his The Bishop of Woolwich – gave the Diocese a firm Institutional Racism in Episcopacy that the Church the Rt Rev Christopher financial footing. He set up Southwark Diocese and its had to make changes due to Chessun - was consecrated as follow up, and has worked financial pressures and Bishop of Woolwich in April tirelessly to encourage the shortage clergy. However his 2005 - the newest member of participation of people from time the biggest change in the the Episcopal team. Before Church of England for minority ethnic backgrounds. Southwark he was centuries also took place, He is a regular contributor to Archdeacon of Northolt Bertram Simpson (1942 – when in November 1992 the Radio 4’s Thought for the having been having been Area 1959) was devoted to General Synod voted for the Day and other national and Dean of Tower Hamlets and Southwark Diocese, where he ordination of women to the local TV and radio Rector of St Dunstan and All programmes. was born, and where he priesthood. In May 1994, he Saints, Stepney, and He has also co-authored two began to serve as Bishop, ordained 80 women as priests previously Chaplain and books with his wife, Barbara, during World War Two. in three services on one day - Minor Canon at St Paul’s Much loved by clergy and ‘Just Mission’ and ‘Just Ronald Bowlby (1980 – the biggest number ordained Cathedral. His interests their families, he was a great Spirituality in a World of 1991) was the Vicar of anywhere the country. He is a include history, music, travel preacher and is remembered Faiths’. Croydon 1966-72 (then in regular contributor to Radio and links with overseas for rebuilding church schools Canterbury Diocese) before 2’s Thought for the Day. churches. throughout the Diocese. TheBRIDGE....Centenary Special Edition - July 2005 in 1962 serving initially in stand on ‘South Bank ... and London Diocese. In 1974 he Religion’ it certainly in 1994, she was Tutor moved to St Laurence, influenced a lot of people! and Course Director on yesterday Catford, in Southwark and He was succeeded by the Rt the St Albans & Oxford served the rest of his ministry Rev David Sheppard (1969 Ministry Course from There are many former here. He became Archdeacon – 1975) the first ordained 1988 until 1996 when she suffragan Bishops who have of Southwark in 1982 and minister to play Test cricket. became Vicar of Holy been notable for all sorts of Bishop of Croydon in 1985. He moved from Woolwich Trinity, Stevenage. reasons - these are just He served on the World to be Bishop of Liverpool. She was appointed Rural three... Council of Churches An active campaigner, Dean of Stevenage in The first perhaps deserves Programme to Combat especially on the subject of 1999. special notice for paving the Racism; Royal Commission poverty and social reform he She has a special interest in way for others by being the on Criminal Procedure; the was an outspoken critic of mission studies and the first black Bishop in the Housing Corporation; the the Thatcher government. social implications of the Church of England. Archbishop of Canterbury’s He is also remembered for Gospel. The Rt Rev Wilfred Wood Commission on Urban his close working She is a member of was Bishop of Croydon from Priority Areas; Mayday relationship with the RC General Synod, a 1985 until his retirement in Healthcare NHS Trust and Archbishop of Liverpool, consultant to the Review of Bishop of Woolwich, spread 2002. He was born in General Synod’s Committee Derek Worlock. Dioceses and Pastoral throughout the country. As Barbados and came to Britain for Black Anglican Concerns Measures Follow-Up James Bogle wrote in the (its first Chairman).