Anglican Diocese of Southwark

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The Diocese of Southwark is one of the 42 dioceses of the Church of England and part of the global Anglican Communion. It sits in the Province of Canterbury and covers most of south London (south of the River Thames, except for the London boroughs of Bexley and Bromley) and parts of east Surrey. The diocese was created on 1 May 1905 from part of the Diocese of Rochester; before that, most of the area belonged to the ancient Diocese of Winchester, with a small area near London Bridge in the Diocese of London. The cathedral is the 13th‑century Gothic Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, known as Southwark Cathedral.

Structure and leadership: Since 1991 the diocese has been divided into three episcopal areas, each led by an area bishop and containing two archdeaconries. The six archdeaconries are Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham & Greenwich, Reigate, Southwark, and Wandsworth. Lambeth Palace, the London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, also serves as the Church of England records centre and is located within the diocese.

The diocesan bishop is Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark. The area bishops are Rosemarie Mallett (area Bishop of Croydon) and Martin Gainsborough (area Bishop of Kingston); the area Bishop of Woolwich is currently vacant. Since 1994 the Bishop of Fulham (Jonathan Baker, licensed as an honorary assistant bishop since 2013) provides alternative episcopal oversight for parishes in the diocese that do not accept the ordination of women as priests.

There are also several honorary assistant bishops licensed to serve in the diocese.

Parish life and size: The diocese has about 300 parishes and around 370 churches, with services conducted in English.

Geography: The Diocese of Southwark covers much of Greater London south of the River Thames and parts of east Surrey.