Day 24: Southwark Cathedral

Day 24: Southwark Cathedral

With my advent Calendars as a child, day 24 was always the largest and the most exciting. The anticipation of what was hiding behind the last door on Christmas Eve was always great.  Very often it would be shining star or a gentle nativity scene.  It would seem fitting then, to complete our London Advent by carefully opening the large door to Southwark Cathedral and take a little peek inside.

Southwark Cathedral is located close to London Bridge and Borough Market in a very busy part of London.  This huge cathedral is vast and beautiful with stain glass windows, stone arches and carvings. There is so much history stored inside this building which has had a presence on this site since at least 1086 when it was mentioned in the Doomsday book. It has obviously grown in size and stature since then but remains a place of worship and a significant part of the community

The Cathedral has a lovely garden which is a haven at all times of year but especially in the summer. A quiet space to sit a while. Whilst the lovely cafe serving delicious coffee and cakes is a nice way to escape the crowds of London bridge

I am a huge advocate of investigating churches and cathedrals when I travel and I love to do the same in London.  There are so many I regularly slip into to find a little moment of peace or stillness. In even the largest ones such as Southwark quiet can always be found

Attending church at Christmas is important to me.  From the carol services before Christmas in London, to the Christmas day service in a church filled with memories in the tiny village I grew up in in Norfolk.  These are the places I find the true essence of Christmas in all it’s glorious mystery.

Thank you so much for reading these London Advent posts. I appreciate all the comments and kind words I have received. It has been a joy to share my love of London with you in this way.  Capturing all the places which are meaningful to me in words and pictures has been a joyful experience.  There are so many places which I haven’t been able to share. 24 days is just not enough it seems, but I hope this has given you, wherever you are, a taste of Christmas in London.

I wish you all a calm and peaceful Christmas filled with all you need it to be.

“Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind”  – Miracle on 34th Street