Southwark Cathedral marks 400th anniversary of Lancelot Andrewes

The Bishop of Winchester was among the bishops at the special service. Andrewes' last bishopric was Winchester and as bishop he lived and died at Winchester Palace in Clink Street which was then within the very large Winchester Diocese.

Also present were his successors invarious other offices including the Master of Pembroke College Cambridge, the Dean of Westminster and the Rector of St Giles Cripplegate in the City. Today's Rector is Katherine Rumens, the former curate at St John's Waterloo.

Andrewes translated the first five books of the Bible into English for what became known as the Authorised Version. His work was much admired three centuries later by T.S.Eliot.

During the service there was the first performance of a new anthem by Alan Weakley who provided a setting for the words of a prayer by Andrewes.

The Bishop of Southwark stood near the tomb of Lancelot Andrewes to give the blessing using words written by the17th-century bishop.

• Among a special display in Southwark Cathedral Bookshop are the first copies of Lancelot Andrewes: Selected Sermons and Lectures (OUP; £90) to be published later this month. The shop is offering a £20 discount.

• Lancelot Andrewes was possibly one of the intended targets of the Gunpowder Plot and as a new bishop he was certainly caught up in the turmoil which followed the arrest of Guy Fawkes who had lived next door to Southwark Cathedral. The Plot's 400th anniversary will be marked by fireworks on the river opposite the Globe at 7.30pm on Saturday 5 November.