The Cathedral Chapter takes the safeguarding and care of children and vulnerable adults very seriously. Our Cathedral Safeguarding Officers work hard to safeguard children and young people, vulnerable adults and those in abusive relationships
The Cathedral’s Safeguarding Officers are:
Matthew Knight
Comptroller, Southwark Cathedral
London Bridge, London SE1 9DA
Tel: 020 7367 6726
Email: matthew.knight@southwark.anglican.org
Cherry James
Cherry can be contacted through the Cathedral Office on 020 7367 6700 or by email
Jill Tilley
Jill can be contacted through the Cathedral Office on 020 7367 6700 or by email
Helen Quintrell
Helen can be contacted through the Cathedral Office on 020 7367 6700 or by email
You can find more help from the following agencies and organisations:
NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are worried about a child.
Child-line: 0800 1111 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are a child or young person and are worried about anything.
National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are experiencing domestic abuse.
Samaritans Helpline: 116 123 (open 24 hours). Phone if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.
Action on Elder Abuse Helpline: 080 8808 8141 ( free phone Monday to Friday 9-5pm)
The Southwark Diocese Safeguarding Team can be contacted as follows:
Diocesan and Cathedral Safeguarding Adviser, Hugh Constant hugh.constant@southwark.anglican.org 020 7939 9423 Mobile 07982 279713 (for urgent matters out of hours)
Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Advisers, Marie Daly and Louise Vernon
Marie Daly marie.daly@southwark.anglican.org 020 7939 9441 Mobile 07946 255295
Louise Vernon louise.vernon@southwark.anglican.org 020 7939 9462 Mobile 07946 255622
We aim to create a safe environment where children and young people are nurtured and protected and where all people, and especially those who may be vulnerable for any reason, are able to worship and pursue their faith journey with encouragement and in safety.
Southwark Cathedral Chapter Policies
To this end the Chapter follows the policies and guidelines set out in the Diocesan publication A Safe Church, a copy of which can be accessed at the following link
Click to view the Chapter’s policies on
The Chapter follows the national legal and procedural framework for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and Church of England policy and practice. We respond promptly to any complaints made, and work in close partnership with police and social care services where children or vulnerable adults have been harmed or are at risk of harm or mistreatment. We provide safe recruitment, training and support to our voluntary and paid workers with children and vulnerable adults.
We care for those who have been abused in the past, and minister appropriately to those who have abused.
2020 Audit by the Social Care Institute for Excellence
As part of the ongoing work of safeguarding in our churches, all Cathedrals have been required to participate in an independent review undertaken by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE).
A copy of the report for the audit carried out in 2020 can be downloaded from here
Cathedral Safeguarding Audit Action Plan July 2020
In February 2020 the Cathedral underwent an audit by SCIE (Social Care Institute for Excellence) of its safeguarding policy, practices, leadership and management along with its general safeguarding culture which can be downloaded above.
Through the Action Plan, the Chapter of Southwark Cathedral responds to the questions raised in the SCIE Audit. The plan contains responses, actions, who is responsible, timescales and action status. The Action Plan needed to be published within three months of the final audit report and this plan was posted online 20 July 2020.
Our aspiration to implement actions during 2020 has been delayed due to the Covid 19 pandemic which has radically changed our working practices on a temporary basis and led to the closure of the Cathedral for nearly four months.
Health safeguarding has been foremost in our risk assessments for safely reopening the Cathedral and its activities following the lockdown in July 2020.
A copy of this Action Plan can be viewed here
Domestic Abuse and COVID-19
The Church of England National Safeguarding Team has issued some information and advice on domestic abuse during this time of lockdown. This information can be found here