Archdiocese of Southwark

Who are we?

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark covers the London boroughs south of the Thames, the County of Kent and the Medway Unitary Authority.

For more information about the Diocese visit Deaneries: Archdiocese of Southwark.

What’s our story?

In 1850, Pope Pius IX restored the Catholic hierarchy in England and Wales and created thirteen dioceses.

As part of this restoration, the Catholic Diocese of Southwark was erected on 29th September 1850. The new Diocese of Southwark covered much of southern England - London south of the Thames, Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Berkshire, southern Oxfordshire, Hampshire and the Channel Islands. Bishop Thomas Grant was consecrated as Bishop of the Diocese on 4th July 1851.

By the later 1800s, it had become clear that the Diocese of Southwark was too large for one bishop. On 19th May 1882, Pope Leo XIII created the Diocese of Portsmouth from the Diocese of Southwark. Hampshire, South Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and the Channel Islands now became part of the new Diocese.

On 28th May 1965, Pope Paul VI created a new Diocese of Arundel and Brighton from part of the Diocese of Southwark. East and West Sussex and Surrey (outside of the London boroughs) became part of this new Diocese. On the same date, the Diocese of Southwark was elevated to a Metropolitan See and Bishop Cyril Cowderoy became the first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Southwark. The Province of Southwark includes the Dioceses of Plymouth, Portsmouth and Arundel and Brighton.

Following the resignation of Archbishop Emeritus Peter Smith on 10th June 2019, Archbishop John Wilson was installed as the Eleventh Bishop of Southwark and Fifth Archbishop of Metropolitan and See on 25th July 2019.

To find out more visit History of Southwark: Archdiocese of Southwark.

What is Our Mission?

The Archdiocese exists like all Catholic Dioceses to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. It does this in many ways through its parishes, schools and chaplaincies. Having Chaplains present on campuses throughout the Archdiocese as witnesses to this Good News is one part of our work.