Safeguarding

The Cathedral Chapter works 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 also contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team on 020 7939 9423 or, in an emergency, 07982 279713

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.

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 here

Click to view the Chapter’s policies on

• Promoting a Safer Church
• Responding to Domestic Abuse

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.

Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE)

The Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team has commissioned the Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE) to help improve how the Church treats people who have been abused or are at risk of harm. It is seeking the views of people with first-hand experience to find out what a good response from the Church should look like. The results of this survey will complement learning from independent audits by SCIE of safeguarding arrangements in all 42 dioceses across England.  Information on this survey can be found here