Doorkins, lived in the Cathedral for 12 years

Pets have a way of quickly becoming part of our families. The loss of a beloved cat can be devastating, and a memorial offers a way to honor what they meant to us.

The Southwark Cathedral knows this all too well, as the London-based church recently held a service to memorialize its beloved furry congregant named Doorkins Magnificat.

Doorkins was a stray cat that found shelter in the cathedral back in 2008 and never left. She lived there for 12 wonderful years and crossed the Rainbow Bridge on September 30, 2020.

In a touching obituary, the Very Reverend Andrew Nunn, Dean of Southwark, wrote:

“From those first tentative steps into the building she made the church her own. She preferred the holy spaces and every so often she would move to another place which became her favorite spot.”

During her years spent at the church, Doorkins was a warm presence for congregants, new and returning alike.

And like many cats, important visitors—even the Queen of England—weren’t enough to stir her from slumber in a cozy place.

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Sadly, in 2017, her health began to take a turn for the worse. Kidney problems, hearing loss, and blindness all befell her, and she eventually went to live with Paul Timms, the head verger, at his home.

She suffered a stroke at the end of September and peacefully passed away in his arms.

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To commemorate their beloved little feline, the Southwark Cathedral recently held a memorial for their beloved furry congregant named Doorkins Magnificat.

They held a memorial service under its Gothic arches and then laid Doorkins to rest in the churchyard.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only 30 people were allowed to attend the ceremony, but it was simultaneously live streamed for thousands congregants who loved her dearly.

Image credits: Bridget Davey