Holy Saviour Parish Church

“I walked over the fields to Southwark…, and I spent half an hour in Mary Overy’s Church, where are fine monuments of great antiquity, I believe, and has been a fine church.” This is what Samuel Pepys wrote in his diary in 1663. He was referring to Holy Saviour Parish Church, a magnificent building that has stood at the heart of Southwark for centuries. The oldest crossing point of the River Thames, it was the only entrance to the City of London for many years. The oldest written reference to Holy Saviour Parish Church is in the Domesday Book, where it is alluded to. This book was a survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. It provides us with a glimpse into the church’s early history as a priory, specifically as an Augustinian priory. This means the monks there lived according to the rule of St Augustine of Hippo. The church was originally known as St Mary Overie, a name later truncated to St Marie Overie, and is a reminder of its status as a priory. The priory was dedicated to St Mary and was under the control of the Diocese of Winchester for centuries. The Bishop of Winchester was greatly involved in shaping the church and what happened within it. In the 15th century, Cardinal Beaufort oversaw significant structural changes. Holy Saviour Parish Church became a place of special connection with the great poet John Gower, who lived there and was buried within its walls. He was a friend of Chaucer, famed for The Canterbury Tales, which begins in Southwark. In 1539, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the priory surrendered to the Crown. It was renamed Holy Saviour Parish Church and the inhabitants leased it back. The church was bought outright by a group of wealthy merchants known as “the Bargainers” for £800 in 1611. During this period, the church became a hub for many of those involved in the theatre productions of Shakespeare’s time. Famous actors, dramatists, and playhouse workers, such as Edmond Shakespeare, William’s brother, and John Fletcher, are buried in the church. The church continued to serve its community throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, with various repairs and alterations. By the 1820s, it was in dire need of further repair and the situation was made even more precarious by the proposal to build a new London Bridge much closer to the church. Some people argued that Holy Saviour Parish Church should be demolished, while others fought hard for its restoration. It was in 1905 when the Diocese of Southwark was created, that Holy Saviour Parish Church became Southwark Cathedral, a testament to its continued significance. The building has stood the test of time, from Saxon beginnings, to the Dissolution of the Monasteries, to the bustling life of Shakespeare’s era, and beyond. It is undoubtedly a magnificent reminder of the rich history of Southwark.