London SE1 > News & Features > March 2000

Duke of Edinburgh returns to Christ Church 40 years on

Local residents and community leaders gathered last month to welcome the Duke of Edinburgh at a special service to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the opening of Christ Church Southwark as an industrial mission centre.

In his welcoming address, Revd John Paxton, Rector of Christ Church, stressed that the church would continue to be "outward looking, past the refurbished gardens, to the people who live and work in the Bankside area". Prayers, which included petitions for Tate Modern, the Millennium Bridge and Bankside Residents Forum, were led by the Bishop of Woolwich Rt Revd Colin Buchanan. Michael Dudding from the Marshall's Charity, outlined to the congregation - which included the Mayor of Southwark Cllr Charles Cherrill and local MP Simon Hughes -�the "long history of mission and social work" at Christ Church.

After a brief response by the Duke, who expressed his "great relief" to see that the centre he opened 40 years ago "is still going strong", presentations were made by a dance group from Blackfriars Settlement and representatives from drama and movement therapy group SESAME. Music was provided by the London Nautical School Choir.