'Southwark Cathedral'

Title: Southwark Cathedral.

Location: Southwark, London.

Tag: okumephuna, southwark, cathedral.

Copyright: Okumephuna Chukwunwikezarramu.

Story: A church stood on this site for over 1400 years while a convent was founded in 606 AD. A monastery was established by St. Swithun in the 9th century and later became an Augustinian Priory under the Normans in 1106 AD. Norman stonework can still be seen. It is the first Gothic church to be built in London (1212) and was consecrated as a Cathedral in 1905. St. Thomas a Becket is said to have preached here as he fled London. St. Thomas Hospital was founded here. Cardinal Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester restored the church after a fire in 1212 and presided at the condemnation of Joan of Arc. Heresy trials occurred during the Reformation in 1555. Southwark Cathedral otherwise called The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St. Saviour and St. Mary Overie contains the tomb of John Gower poet and friend of Geoffrey Chaucer whose Canterbury Tales begin in Southwark. It contains a monument to William Shakespeare while his brother Edmond and playwrights Fletcher and Massinger are buried here. Bishop Lancelot Andrewes who translated the first five books of the Authorised Version of the Bible into English is buried here. John Harvard, born locally was baptised here ultimately endowing Harvard University. It contains a memorial for the Marchioness riverboat victims as well as tributes to both Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.