Verger (Part-Time, 25 hours per week)

We have an opportunity to join our dedicated team of vergers to uphold the dignity of worship in the Cathedral, to care for its security and to welcome all who enter it. The Vergers play an important part in ensuring the proper functioning of the Cathedral as a place of worship and for the many other roles and activities which it serves.

This new post has been introduced to assist the existing team of four vergers to cope with an expanding workload, especially through the increasing popularity of Southwark Cathedral as a venue for concerts and special events, many of which take place in the evenings. The post holder will spend a significant part of their working week helping to ensure these events, some of which are complex and run on a tight schedule to fit in with Cathedral services, run smoothly while providing a professional standard of welcome and assistance to event organisers.

The team also comprises a Head Verger, a Deputy Head Verger and two further full-time vergers.
The post-holder will be expected to work closely with a number of other staff and volunteers as necessary.

• A communicant member of the Anglican Church (or a church in communion with the Anglican Church)
• A good team player with the ability to relate equally well to paid and voluntary staff
• Displaying an understanding of worship and an appreciation of the importance of dignity
• A friendly and welcoming personality able to offer a warm welcome to all who visit or use the Cathedral for worship, for concerts and events or as tourists - even at the end of a long shift
• Enthusiastic, energetic and practical
• Able to work under pressure
• Competent in the use of basic Microsoft Office applications and email
• Good communication skills, both written and oral
• Able to reach all areas of the Cathedral Church and associated buildings without mechanical assistance, carry heavy loads and do such physical work as is required
• Able to demonstrate sympathy with the aims and objectives of Southwark Cathedral
• Flexible and willing to work overtime and shift-work when required
Desirable
• Previous experience in a similar position within a Church or Cathedral, paid or voluntary

The Cathedral is situated on the south bank of the Thames adjacent to London Bridge in a largely business area. It is also a Parish Church. Only a small number of people are actually resident in the parish which comprises large commercial offices, two hospitals, the Cathedral Primary School and the Borough Market.
The local area has undergone tremendous change with the opening of the Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern, the Millennium Footbridge and the Jubilee Line extension station at London Bridge as well as numerous other redevelopments including The Shard and re-developed London Bridge station.
The normal Sunday morning congregation is eclectic with the many visitors from all over the world. Sunday Evensong is Choral in the Anglican Tradition.