Ceramic model of a cat on Doorkins grave, Southwark Cathedral churchyard. ©Carole Tyrrell
In 2008, a small stray tabby cat sneaked into Southwark Cathedral by the south west door. It was cheek by jowl to her usual territory which was the bustling Borough market. The Cathedral’s vergers made her welcome by feeding her and she started to get her paws under the welcome table. The feeding began to be a daily habit and, encouraged, the small feline began to trust them and visited more frequently. Until eventually she had a name – Doorkins Magnificat. It is thought that Doorkins was a pun on Richard Dawkins, the evolutionary biologist and atheist, and Magnificat came from the Song of Mary that the clergy sang everyday.
Doorkins Magnificat ©Bridget Davey Outdoor Revival.com
Doorkins life changed for the better as she became popular with the Cathedral’s visitors, congregation and staff. However, she never entirely became a friendly cat and a reproving paw swipe soon established who was boss. As with other Cathedral cats, visits became a game of ‘Spot the cat’ or in Southwark’s case, ‘Spot the Doorkins.’ Would she be seen nonchalantly strolling in front of the altar during a service or indulging in a strenuous and thorough bout of washing herself, stretched out over a radiator grille or creating a new Christmas tradition by bedding down in the Nativity crib straw over the festive period?
In 2017, she had her own picture book which featured a tour of the Cathedral and a typical week in her life as Mousecatcher in Chief. A more permanent memorial and tribute was created in 2018 with a gargoyle in her image holding a fish in its mouth on the North Wall. On a visit by HM The Queen to celebrate the installation of a window in honour of her Jubilee, Doorkins seemed unaware of the honour. It was rumoured that she may have sleepily opened an eye before returning back to the land of Nod again. The Queen is reputed to have asked ‘Does this cat live here?’ as Doorkins missed her opportunity for a photocall.
Doorkins Magnificat and gargoyle. I couldn’t find a credit for this but happy to do so.
Doorkins Magnificat gargoyle in situ North wall, Southwark Cathedral. I couldn’t find a credit but happy to do so.
But, despite landing on her paws, Doorkins was still on active service out and about on Southwark’s streets until the 2017 London terrorist attacks. The Cathedral was locked down for a few days and she was shut out. Once it reopened, she ran inside and didn’t leave her sanctuary again.
However, old age caught up with Doorkins and her health began to fail. Kidney problems, increasing deafness and, ultimately blindness, meant that she could longer safely do her rounds in the huge Cathedral. So, she retired to the countryside and the home of the head verger, Paul Timms, where she died in his arms on 30 September 2020 ‘to the sound of a familiar voice.’
A Service of Thanksgiving was held for Doorkins on 28 October 2020 which was livestreamed worldwide. It could be asked ‘why do this for a stray cat in the middle of a pandemic in which thousands died?’ But I watched it and it was a poignant experience to see the small wooden box containing her remains being presented to Andrew Nunn, the Dean of Southwark. I feel that events like these gave people a focus in order to grieve especially at a time like that. In an earlier post I wrote about a lady who had adopted a monument in West Norwood Cemetery in order to have somewhere to place flowers and mourn a dear friend. The service for Doorkins was very moving especially when the Dean told the congregation and the online audience that:
‘In more normal times, we often host memorial services for the great and the good. But I don’t think there’s ever been a service for a cat.’
But not everyone approved and in some quarters it was considered controversial. For example, the Bishop of Burnley thundered:
‘Is this a joke?’ he tweeted, ‘I do hope so. If not it’s grossly insensitive to bereaved families and those ministering to them in the new world under the coronavirus restrictions’
But the decision to hold the memorial service had been supported by the congregation and the Dean replied that:
‘she (Doorkins) did more to bring people to this place than I will ever do.’
It was Paul Timms who carried the little wooden casket to the peaceful spot in the churchyard that had been chosen for her. A place of calm keeping the bustling world outside.
This month I was on a flying visit to London and was near London Bridge to attend an exhibition. I had always meant to make a sort of pilgrimage to find her resting place and now was the time to do it. After negotiating Borough Market I entered the Cathedral and churchyard and saw the ceramic sleeping cat with its painted sign above. I stood for few moments as the sun shone down on Doorkins and felt that I’d seen a true Londoner’s memorial. Inside the Cathedral I lit a candle in her memory and honour and looked for her successor, Hodge, but to no avail. Another visit perhaps….
RIP Doorkins Magnificat 2003 -2020 ©Carole Tyrrell
©Text and photos Carole Tyrrell unless otherwise stated.
References and further reading
Meet Doorkins Magnificat the cathedral cat – BBC News
Doorkins Magnificat RIP (muchloved.com)
Service of Thanksgiving: Southwark Cathedral (anglican.org)
Chief Mouse Catcher at Southwark Cathedral, Doorkins Magnificat Laid to Rest (outdoorrevival.com)
Much loved Southwark Cathedral cat Doorkins Magnificat laid to rest | London | The Guardian
shadows fly away 