Tomorrow morning at 10.30am we welcome the Archbishop of Canterbury to a Eucharist in the cathedral to celebrate Black History Month. We also welcome our friend the Dean of Gloucester, Andrew Zihni, as the preacher. This is a special day in the Diocese, in an important month in our nation, and all of us at the Cathedral feel very energised to be participating in both. The liturgy will be exploring music as a source of change.

The national Black History Month celebration this year focuses on ‘reclaiming narratives’. Stories are powerful tools that shape how we understand our past, present, and future. For too long, the history of Black communities has been told through lenses that often misrepresent, oversimplify, or entirely overlook the rich and diverse experiences of those who lived it. As the Black History Month website says: ‘The theme is not just about revisiting history; it’s about taking ownership of the stories that define our culture, our contributions, and our very identity. It’s a call to action for Black communities across the UK to step into the role of storytellers, historians, and custodians of our heritage. For far too long, our histories have been narrated by others, leading to distorted portrayals that fail to capture the full breadth and depth of our experiences.’

This Summer saw the publication of the Fifth Biennial Report of the Archbishops’ Commission for Racial Justice. The report says that: ‘Cathedrals have a major role to play in celebrating equality, diversity and inclusion, and ensuring that Racial Justice considerations become a normal part of all aspects of Church life’. Here at Southwark we couldn’t agree more, and we are committing ourselves afresh this month to work for the significant cultural and structural change on issues of racial justice within the Church of England that is both urgent and non-negotiable. May God bless us all in this work of the Gospel to make visible the God-given dignity of each and every one of us.