The Diocese of Southwark ( ) is one of the 42 dioceses of the Church of England, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The diocese forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. It was created on 1 May 1905 from part of the ancient Diocese of Rochester that was served by a suffragan bishop of Southwark from 1891 to 1905. Before 1877, most of the area was part of the ancient Diocese of Winchester, with a small part near the southern end of the London Bridge being part of the ancient Diocese of London.
The cathedral parish is the 13th century, gothic Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie.
Geographical extent The diocese covers Greater London south of the River Thames (except for the London Borough of Bexley and the London Borough of Bromley) and east Surrey. Since the creation of the diocese's episcopal area scheme in 1991 (which before then had been operating informally for the previous five years), the diocese is divided into three episcopal areas, each of which is overseen by an area bishop and contains two archdeaconries:Diocese of Southwark: Bishops and Officers . Retrieved on 29 June 2012. Croydon Episcopal Area (overseen by the area Bishop of Croydon) Archdeaconry of Croydon includes deaneries of Croydon Addington, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, and Sutton Archdeaconry of Reigate includes deaneries of Caterham, Godstone, and Reigate Kingston Episcopal Area (overseen by the area Bishop of Kingston) Archdeaconry of Lambeth includes deaneries of Brixton, Clapham, Lambeth North, Lambeth South, Streatham, and Merton Archdeaconry of Wandsworth includes deaneries of Battersea, Kingston, Richmond and Barnes, Tooting, and Wandsworth Woolwich Episcopal Area (overseen by the area Bishop of Woolwich) Archdeaconry of Lewisham & Greenwich includes deaneries of Charlton, Deptford, East Lewisham, Eltham and Mottingham, Plumstead, and West Lewisham Archdeaconry of Southwark includes deaneries of Bermondsey, Camberwell, Dulwich, and Southwark and Newington
In other ecclesiastical use, although having lost religious orders in the English Reformation, the diocese has the London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury and records centre of the Church of England in the diocese, Lambeth Palace.
Bishops Alongside the diocesan Bishop of Southwark (currently vacant), the diocese has three area (suffragan) bishops: Rosemarie Mallett, area Bishop of Croydon; Martin Gainsborough, area Bishop of Kingston; and Alastair Cutting, area Bishop of Woolwich. Since 1994 the Bishop of Fulham (currently Jonathan Baker, since 2013) has provided 'alternative episcopal oversight' in the diocese (along with those of London and Rochester) to those parishes which reject the ordination of women to the priesthood. Baker is licensed as an honorary assistant bishop in Southwark diocese in order to facilitate his ministry there.
Several other bishops are licensed as honorary assistant bishops in the diocese: 2004–present: Michael Doe, Preacher to Gray's Inn, former General Secretary of USPG and former Bishop suffragan of Swindon, lives in Woolwich. 2006–present: Richard Harries, Baron Harries of Pentregarth, is an honorary professor of theology at King's College London, former Gresham Professor of Divinity and former Bishop of Oxford. 2009–present: David Atkinson, former Bishop suffragan of Thetford, lives in South Croydon. 2011–present: Alan Chesters, retired diocesan Bishop of Blackburn, lives in Lingfield, Surrey (he is also licensed in Sussex and in Europe). 2011–present: Peter Selby, a visiting professor at King's College London and retired Bishop of Worcester, Bishop to Prisons and suffragan (later area) Bishop of Kingston, lives in Sydenham. 2013–present: The Archbishop of Canterbury's chief of staff, Nigel Stock, Bishop at Lambeth, Bishop to the Forces and Bishop for the Falkland Islands, lives in Lambeth. 2014–present: Stephen Platten, Rector of St Michael Cornhill (Diocese of London) and retired Bishop of Wakefield (also in London and Newcastle dioceses). 2021–present: Rob Gillion, Vicar of Streatham Christ Church and Associate Bishop for the Arts (honorary assistant bishop), is a former Bishop of Riverina
Churches
Outside deanery structures Cathedral of St Saviour & St Mary Overie, Southwark
Archdeaconry of Croydon
Deanery of Croydon Addington
Current ChurchEstablishedAddington (St Mary the Blessed Virgin)MedievalWest Wickham St John the BaptistMedieval, rebuilt late C15thShirley St John the Evangelist1856West Wickham St Mary of Nazareth1934, rebuilt 1954West Wickham St Francis of Assisi1936Selsdon St John the Divine1936Shirley St George the Martyr1952Spring Park (All Saints)1956New Addington (St Edward King & Confessor)1957Selsdon St Francis1962
Former +ChurchEstablishedNew Addington St George1946, perm. building 1962, decl. redundant 1985
Deanery of Croydon Central
Current ChurchEstablishedCroydon St John the Baptist MinsterMedieval, rebuilt 1870Croydon Christ Church Broad Green1851, rebuilt 1991(South) Croydon St Peter1851Croydon St Andrew1857Croydon St Matthew1865, rebuilt on different site 1972Addiscombe St Mary Magdalene (with St Martin)1878 (begun 1869, joined CoE 1878)Croydon St Michael & All Angels (with St James)1883(South) Croydon St Augustine1884South Croydon Emmanuel1899Waddon (St George)1932Addiscombe St Mildred1913, permanent building 1931-32
Former ChurchEstablishedCroydon Common, St James1829, declared redundant 1989Croydon St Edmund, declared redundant Croydon Addiscombe St Martin1902, declared redundant 1994, demolished 1995
Deanery of Croydon North
CurrentCurrent ChurchEstablishedUpper Norwood All Saints with St Margaret1829South Norwood St Mark1852Croydon Holy Saviour1867Thornton Heath St Paul1871Upper Norwood St John the Evangelist1875, present building 1887Thornton Heath St Jude with St Aidan1884, present building 1929(Croydon) Woodside St Luke1887, largely rebuilt 1927Norbury St Stephen1889, present building 1912South Norwood Holy Innocents1895South Norwood St Alban the Martyr1899-1925Norbury St Philip1900-1935Norbury St Oswald1936
Former ChurchEstablishedCroydon Holy Trinity1881, declared redundant 1980Upper Norwood St Margaret1901, declared redundant 2003Thornton Heath, St Aidan (unconsecrated)1964, use ceased 1978
Deanery of Croydon South ChurchEstablishedSanderstead All SaintsMedievalCoulsdon St John the EvangelistMedievalKenley (All Saints)1872Purley Christ Church1878Riddlesdown (St James)1903, current building 1915-1931Sanderstead St Mary1908, current building 1926Purley St Mark1910Purley St Barnabas1910, rebuilt 1913, 1932, 1958, closed 2025Coulsdon St Andrew1914Purley St Swithun1929, current building 1939–1954Riddlesdown St Edmund King & Martyrpre-1950, current building 1957Hamsey Green St Antony1955
Archdeaconry of Lambeth
Deanery of Lambeth North
Current ChurchEstablishedClapham St PaulMedieval (as St Mary's, then Holy Trinity), rebuilt 1815Clapham Holy Trinity1776South Lambeth St Anne & All Saints1793, rebuilt 1876 and 1958Brixton St Matthew with St Jude1822Kennington St Mark1824Waterloo St John the Evangelist1824North Brixton (Christ Church)1835, rebuilt 1902Stockwell (St Michael)1841Clapham St John the Evangelist1842Angell Town (St John the Evangelist)1853Waterloo St Andrew1855, new building 1960, new building 2006South Lambeth St Stephen1861, rebuilt 1969Clapham Christ Church1862Vauxhall (St Peter)1864Kennington St John the Divine1874Clapham St Peter1879Brixton St Paul with St Saviour1881, original building redundant 1980 and congregation moved to present church (built 1958)Kennington Cross (St Anselm)1887, new building 1914–1933Clapham Holy Spirit1913
Former ChurchEstablishedLambeth St MaryMedieval, rebuilt 1852, declared redundant 1972; now a museum of gardensLambeth St Mary the Less1828, closed 1966Lambeth Holy Trinity1839, closed 1951Kennington Park, St James1840s, closed 1923Lambeth All Saints1846, demolished 1901Kennington St Barnabas1850, declared redundant 1980Lambeth St Thomas1857, demolished 1956Lambeth St Silas1862, demolished c. 1945Lambeth St Philip1863, declared redundant 1975Clapham St Saviour1864, destroyed 1940Brixton St Jude1868, declared redundant 1979Lambeth Emmanuel1869, closed 1951Brixton St Saviour1875, original building redundant 1977, LEP with Methodists 1979, closed 2005Brixton St Catherine1877, closed 1902South Lambeth All Saints1878, declared redundant c. 1949Lambeth St Augustine1882, rebuilt 1899, closed 1949Stockwell Epiphanyc. 1910, out of use 1930sClapham St Bede1924, redundant before 1983Stockwell Green St Andrew1767, closed 2014
Deanery of Lambeth South
Current ChurchEstablishedStreatham St LeonardMedieval, largely rebuilt 1831 and 1976West Norwood (St Luke)1825Clapham St James1829, rebuilt 1958Streatham Christ Church1841Streatham Immanuel1854, rebuilt 1865, 1989Tulse Hill (Holy Trinity)1856Clapham Park (All Saints)1858, rebuilt 1982Streatham St Peter1865, present building 1870Gipsy Hill (Christ Church)1867, rebuilt 1987West Dulwich All Saints1875, present building 1888–1897West Dulwich Emmanuel1877, rebuilt 1968Streatham Hill (St Margaret the Queen)1889-1907Telford Park St Thomas1901Streatham Vale (Holy Redeemer)1932Dulwich Grace Churchc. 2015 (date of joining CoE; established 2005)
Former ChurchEstablishedGipsy Hill St Jude1880, closed 1960sStreatham St Anselm1882, closed 1952Lower Streatham St Andrew1886, declared redundant 1988Streatham All Saints1897, closed 1953Streatham St John1908, closed c. 1940West Norwood St Paul1909, closed c. 1962Clapham Park St Stephen1974, closed 2023
Deanery of Merton
Current ChurchEstablishedMerton St Mary the VirginMedievalMitcham SS Peter & PaulMedieval, rebuilt 1821Morden St LawrenceMedieval, rebuilt 1636Wimbledon St MaryMedieval, mostly rebuilt 1843West Wimbledon (Christ Church)1859South Wimbledon Holy Trinity1863Colliers Wood (Christ Church)1874Wimbledon St John the Baptist1875South Wimbledon St Andrew1883, current building 1909South Wimbledon All Saints1887, current building 1893Wimbledon Emmanuel [proprietary chapel]1888Wimbledon St Matthew1895, rebuilt 1909, 1958Mitcham St Mark1899-1910Wimbledon St Mark1902, rebuilt 1969Raynes Park (St Saviour)1905Wimbledon Park St Luke1908Motspur Park (Holy Cross)1908, rebuilt 1948Mitcham St Barnabas1914Merton St John the Divine1914Mitcham St Olave1931Morden St George1932Mitcham Ascension1953Morden St Martin1956Merton St James1957Morden Emmanuel1962
Former ChurchEstablishedSouth Wimbledon St Peter1901, rebuilt 1911, redundant 1982
Archdeaconry of Lewisham and Greenwich Deanery of Charlton: Blackheath St John the Evangelist, Blackheath Park (St Michael & All Angels), Charlton St Luke, Charlton St Thomas, East Greenwich (Christ Church), Greenwich (St Alfege), Greenwich Peninsula (Holy Trinity), Kidbrooke St James, Kidbrooke St Nicholas, Westcombe Park (St George), Woolwich (St Mary Magdalene)
Deanery of Deptford: Blackheath Ascension, Brockley (St Peter), Deptford Holy Trinity, Deptford St John, Deptford St Luke, Deptford St Nicholas, Deptford St Paul, Hatcham St Catherine, Hatcham St James, Hatcham St Michael, Hatcham Park (All Saints)
Deanery of Eltham & Mottingham: Eltham Holy Trinity, Eltham St Barnabas, Eltham St John the Baptist, Eltham St Saviour, Eltham Park (St Luke), Mottingham St Alban, Mottingham St Andrew, Mottingham St Edward the Confessor, New Eltham (All Saints)
Deanery of Lewisham East: Bellingham (St Dunstan), Blackheath All Saints, Catford St Andrew the Apostle, Catford St John, Catford St Laurence, Downham St Barnabas, Downham St Luke, Grove Park (St Augustine), Hither Green (St Swithun), Lee Good Shepherd, Lee St Margaret, Lee St Mildred, Lee St Peter, Lewisham St Mary the Virgin, Lewisham St Stephen, North Downham (St Mark)