Southwark Cathedral

Southwark Cathedral is situated close to the Thames near London Bridge.. It is believed that there has been a church here for over 1000 years. Prior to that there was a Roman villa.  In 1977 a well was discovered beneath the choir, it contained a pagan statue believed to have been put there in the fourth century.



Looking down the nave




Some of the many memorials inside the church.

In the churchyard is a very unusual memorial to Mahamet Weyonomon a chief of the Mohegan tribe. He was 36 years old when he died but as a foreigner he could not be buried in the City of London. He was carried across the river and buried near St Saviour's church which is now Southwark Cathedral.

His tribe had helped the first settlers in New England to repel Indian attacks but then the settlers began to steal tribal lands. In 1735 Mahamet sailed to England to petition the King but then contracted smallpox and died.

 The memorial was erected at the request of his tribe to honour a fallen chief. The stone was brought from Mohegan lands and placed in the grounds of the Cathedral. It was unveiled by the Queen on 22nd June 2006 with the tribal chairman Bruce 2 dogs Bozsun and the US Ambassador. It is a beautifully carved stone that you just want to touch.