October marks the start of Black History Month in the UK, a time to celebrate and recognise the invaluable contributions and rich history of black communities of African and Caribbean descent. It’s also an opportunity to advocate for racial equality and social justice.
Southwark Cathedral Black History Month Service 2026
This year, we will be ‘Honouring our Communities & Sharing our Stories’ over the course of our celebration event. There will be a Eucharistic celebration in partnership with the Diocesan Board of Education at Southwark Cathedral on Saturday 3 October. During the service, we will feature our parishes, chaplaincies, school groups and Christian initiatives who ‘live life abundantly’ (John 10:10), making a positive difference in the lives of black-led/ black-majority communities across our diocese.
Over the summer we invited you to nominate parishes, chaplaincies, school groups and Christian initiatives that you think demonstrate what it means to ‘live life abundantly’. The nominations are now closed and we look forward to sharing citations of each of our nominees and being able to announce our winners after the service.
Read more about this year’s service here.
A poster for this year’s event can be downloaded here.
This year’s service will also be available to watch via Southwark Cathedral’s YouTube Channel.
Come for worship, and to learn, listen and celebrate with us!
Here you will find the livestream link and order of service, so that you can follow along with the service.
There are lots of special services and events taking place across the diocese – look out for more details throughout the month of October on this page.
Anti-racism
In 2021, Southwark launched its Anti-Racism Charter (ARC) – a strategy to enhance ethnic diversity and inclusion across the Diocese of Southwark. The charter was unanimously approved at Diocesan Synod in March 2021, following a discussion led by The Rt Revd Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Bishop of Croydon and Diocesan Lead on Social and Racial Justice, who was Archdeacon of Croydon at the time.
Standing against racism in all its forms – the aim of the ARC is to encourage parishes to refer to the charter and actively counter, disrupt and oppose racial injustice.
Read more about the ARC here.
To further support our parishes in exploring and implementing the key principles of the ARC and to encourage practical action, a parish study resource has been released by the team this year. It’s a Bible study programme that consists of four parts, each of which has been contributed by a different person from our diocese – reflecting a diversity of experiences and perspectives. People can engage with these resources in their parishes and share their feedback.
Email the team to request copies of the resource via [email protected] or submit your feedback here: tinyurl.com/bdenn8uh
Video: Bishop Rosemarie explores why anti-racism is so crucial to our Christian faith.
BHM Prayers and Resources
- A prayer for Black History Month: A special prayer for use in your services throughout October.
- Liturgical Resources for Black History Month: A range of resources to help churches to mark the month, including services of the Word, a Eucharistic service, prayers of lament and commission, and additional resources for Bible studies, youth work, Messy Church, and music. More resources can be found on the Church of England website.
- We are CofE: a series of clips produced to highlight the diversity of persons undertaking vocations in the Church, both ordained and lay, including school ministry. It features persons of UK Minoritised Ethnic (UKME) / Global Majority Heritage (GMH) backgrounds speaking about their role and experiences towards encouraging others to consider similar pathways.
- Archbishops’ Racial Justice Report: To be used for discussion and taking action, you can read the final report reviewing three years of Church of England racial justice work, calling for continued structural change and accountability.
- Churches Together in Britain and Ireland: BHM 2026 resources.
- If Racism Vanished for a Day: a book to enable the children to talk in a positive way about themselves and their lives by the RESPECT project – a project aimed at understanding the experiences and impacts of racism on 10 – 11 year olds, and which recommendations on how schools might better support children and teachers.
- BBC: Watch and listen to documentaries, interviews and more. This year BBC Sounds is celebrating black voices with The Music is Black – a new a series of programmes in collaboration with V&A East Museum. Share your stories and discover the Black British music scene.
- A Whole New World and the Map We Inherited: This Guardian Long Wave piece explores why replacing the Mercator map with a more accurate projection matters, especially for how Africa is seen, taught and understood.
A Collect for Black History Month
Compassionate God,
who sent Jesus Christ
to deliver us from all manner of injustices and inequalities,
create in us new hearts and enlarged visions,
to see the image of God in every person
irrespective of background, race and ethnicity.
May we be generous in our love of others
as we work towards ending misunderstanding, racism and injustice; creating communities of human flourishing,
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
BHM 2026 Events
Kingston Episcopal Area
Loving, Loving, Serving – Keep The Faith documentary screening
Thursday 15 October, 7-9pm
Holy Trinity Church, 234 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB
The Kingston Area Racial Justice Group will be showing of Living, Loving, Serving, a documentary focusing on black women in Christian leadership, produced by Keep the Faith magazine and featuring Bishop Rosemarie. The screening will be followed by a discussion with one of the producers.
For more information, visit: www.ht-sw.org.uk
Croydon Episcopal Area
Black History Month celebration service
Saturday 24 October, 4pm
Croydon Minister, Church Street, Croydon, CR0 1RN
The Croydon Episcopal Area will be hosting a special service ‘Honouring our communities and sharing our stories’. All are welcome.
For more information, visit: www.croydonminster.org
Remembering the forgotten
Saturday 31 October, 10.30am – 2.30pm
St Luke’s Church, Whyteleafe, CR3 0AA
The programme includes:
10.30-11.30am Children’s and family workshop
12-1pm A taste of the Caribbean – enjoy a delicious lunch for £10
1.30-2.30pm The story of Britain’s black airmen – Kandace Chimbiri in conversation with Linda Duffield from Kenley Revival
Book your tickets here.
Honouring Our Communities
The national theme for Black History Month UK 2026 is ‘Honouring Our Communities’ – inviting us to recognise the communities that shape, support and strengthen Britain. This year’s theme, reflects the fact that Black history is not only made through landmark events or by famous names. It is also created through everyday acts of leadership, care, service, creativity, courage and commitment.
Across Britain, Black people are contributing through education, healthcare, faith, business, sport, culture, heritage, public service, environmental action, youth work, volunteering and grassroots community leadership. They are teachers and healthcare professionals. Artists and entrepreneurs. Veterans and faith leaders. Mentors, campaigners, historians, volunteers and community organisers. Some have influenced national conversations. Others have transformed individual lives, neighbourhoods and local communities. Read more about this here.
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