Southwark Cathedral church will be closed for sightseeing on Wednesday morning 15 October during the consecration service for the new bishop Kelly Betteridge.

She is to be a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Winchester where her responsibilities include pastoral care churches on the Pilgrims’ Way from Winchester to Bentley.

It is appropriate that the consecration is taking place in Southwark where the Pilgrims’ Way also starts. The Southwark and Winchester routes to Canterbury merge at Otford in Kent.

Southwark Cathedral, a former priory, is the daughter cathedral of Winchester. Its diocese once embraced all of Southwark with the bishop living next to the priory. The remains of the Winchester Palace’s great hall can be seen in Clink Street.

Bishop designate Kelly says that she enjoys walking and has ‘done several distance walks’.

She takes up her new duties next month.