Saturday 8th September 12 noon to 11pm
John Constable aka John Crow performs ‘I Am The Wind’, opening for a set by the legendary Martin Carthy, the man who taught Bob Dylan about English folk-songs. There’s also a walk with comedian Arthur Smith, a performance by Circulus and much more – and it’s all FREE! More details here
Sunday 23rd September 7pm
The 172nd consecutive Vigil, which has been held at the gates in Redcross Way on the 23rd of every single month since June 2004. Gather from 6.45pm to begin on the stroke of 7.
We come here to remember the outcast, dead and alive, to renew the shrine and to reclaim the secret history of Crossbones, as revealed by The Goose to John Crow in ‘The Southwark Mysteries’ and re-imagined by every Friend of Crossbones who comes to open the pathways.
These magical works underpin our creation of the Crossbones shrine and the Garden of Remembrance, and our campaign to protect Crossbones as a place of historical, cultural AND spiritual significance – as sacred ground to be protected in the face of the coming redevelopment of the adjoining ‘Landmark Court’ site.
John Crow conducts the rituals and performs his songs and poems from ‘The Southwark Mysteries’ – with words of wisdom from Jules, dedications to Goddess, creative acts of beauty to awaken all our senses and ‘moments in Eternity’ in which we stand in the heart of the city, in silence and in shining emptiness to light the pathways, allowing the sounds of the night to appear and vanish without trace.
This month also marks the Autumn Equinox, when day and night are in balance – an opportunity for us also to re-balance our lives, to let go of what we have lost or no longer need and to invite in the new.
Bring a ribbon, memento or totem to tie to the gates, and a poem, song or brief testimony to share with the spirits of Crossbones. Expect the unexpected!
‘you never know what you might find / you say that Southwark / is only a place / I say She’s a State of Mind.’
Goose, may your Spirit fly free.
Photo (c) Another Eden Images
Sunday 23rd September 12 noon to 6pm
A workshop hosted by Jacqueline Durban and Jennifer Cooper
Through creativity, movement, ritual, and laughter, we will dive into an exploration of what it is to walk a Goddess Path, holding the Divine Feminine as our mirror and guide, seeking Her beneath the skin of the everyday where She has remained hidden in plain sight over two thousand years.
Working in the Crossbones Graveyard Memorial Garden to the Outcast Dead, we will discover The Goose; the Spirit of a medieval prostitute with Her own Secret History (as imparted to John Crow, the shamanic double of John Constable), and discover in Her company a doorway offering the way into deep healing and profound transformation through “sacred profanity”, Open Pathways, and Shining Emptiness.
Working together; listening to the Sacred Feminine within, to the holy and hallowed ground that we walk on, its nature and its heartbeat, we will create a communal poem which we will then present at the monthly Crossbones Vigil for the Outcast, dead and living.
Donations requested, from £30 downwards. Pay what you can afford. All welcome.
After the workshop there will be an opportunity and invitation to attend the monthly Vigil for the Outcast, Dead and Living at the gates of the Crossbones shrine.
Thursday 23rd August 2018
Gather from 6.45 to join the 171st consecutive Vigil, held at the gates in Redcross Way at 7pm on the 23rd of every single month since June 2004.
We come here to remember the outcast, dead and alive, to renew the shrine and to reclaim the secret history of Crossbones, as revealed by The Goose to John Crow and reimagined by every Friend of Crossbones who comes to open the pathways.These magical works underpin our creation of the Crossbones shrine and the Garden of Remembrance, which we’re still campaigning to protect and enhance in the face of the coming redevelopment of the adjoining ‘Landmark Court’ site.
For this month’s Vigil, Jennifer will be doing the honours. Please come support her, bringing a ribbon, memento or magical totem to tie to the gates, and/or a poem, song or short personal testimony to share when we offer our creativity to the spirits of Crossbones.
Expect the unexpected! At the last Vigil, on 23rd July, we had parents reading moving poems for their children who’d died tragically, a mystical Brazilian song sung to the memory of a friend who’d recently taken his own life, tales of The Magdalene, the singing of Isis (Dylan/Levy), everyone being scented by a musky, green scent by John Foley our Crossbones street perfumier, the free distribution of 23 copies of BURNING ISSUE magazine – and much more. Come amaze yourself!
Goose, may your Spirit fly free.
Sunday 22nd July 12.30pm – 5pm FREE!
Crossbones Garden, Union Street entrance, London SE1 1SD
The Dean of Southwark, the Very Revd. Andrew Nunn, conducts a blessing of Crossbones Garden of Remembrance, followed by a performance and picnic for St Mary Magdalene Day
12.30pm Garden opens. Procession from Southwark Cathedral. Join the procession on the west side of the Cathedral or gather at Crossbones to greet it.
1pm Blessing
An ‘Act of Regret, Remembrance, Restoration’ honouring the ‘Winchester Geese’, women who worked in medieval brothels licensed by the church yet were buried in the unconsecrated Crossbones Graveyard.
1.30pm Cross Bones Bards
Poems from The Southwark Mysteries, the secret history of The Goose at Crossbones, by John Constable with Michelle Watson. Also featuring Kirsten Morrison, Cunning Folk
2.30pm Magdalene Feast with impromptu performances
Celebrating St Mary Magdalene’s Feast Day. Light refreshments provided. Please bring cushions for your comfort and a tasty treat to share.
4.30 Closing ceremony
5pm Garden closes
Some adult content. Under 16s must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Presented by Friends of Crossbones, supported by Bankside Open Spaces Trust (BOST) and C.G. Hacking and Sons Limited, with thanks to Southwark Cathedral
Monday 23rd July 2018
Yet another reason to join us for the Isis-Magdalene Vigil at Crossbones Gates, Redcross Way, gather 6.45 for 7pm Vigil on 23rd July
Saturday 7th July
entrance at the golden gates on Union Street, London SE1 1SD. Please arrive by 1:45 for a 2pm start. Ends at 5pm
Entry by donation – suggested minimum £5 waged/£3 unwaged.
Come and find out about the amazing history of Crossbones, join in a talk about female anatomy, see the herbs at Crossbones and learn to use them for common ailments.
Let’s celebrate ourselves! A unique workshop for women, non-binary and trans folk, and for anyone to whom the topic is of interest. Bring a cup, a mat to sit on, and snacks to share if you can. Please dress for the weather – if it’s sunny bring a hat and suncream to protect yourself! We will work in a small group – limited places available! RSVP as soon as possible on 07963765747
Monday 23rd July gather 6.45 for 7pm Vigil in the street by the red gates to Crossbones, Redcross Way
Our Vigil for the Outcast has been conducted at 7pm on the 23rd of every month since June 2004. We come to renew the shrine at the red gates, to remember all outcasts and outsiders, dead and alive, and to reclaim the secret history of Crossbones as revealed by The Goose to John Crow.
This months Vigil is traditionally our Isis-Magdalene Festival, honouring the Goddess Isis, whose festival in Ancient Egypt fell around this time, and St Mary Magdalene, whose feast day we celebrate at Crossbones on 22nd July (see ‘Blessing and Bards’).
So although we’ll be celebrating her on Crossbones all of Sunday afternoon, we’ll be back in force on Monday evening to rock the party!
John Crow will conduct the Vigil, helped by the Friends of Crossbones – including YOU! As ever on 23rd July, expect to hear Crow and musician friends perform Dylan’s ‘Isis’, and a distribution of some free copies of BURNING ISSUE, Jonathan Harris’ magazine for radical money-burners – this issue includes a £23 note bearing the images of Crossbones, John Crow and Katy Kaos alongside the late sex worker and activist Laura Lee.
All this – and things as yet undreamed. Be there! And may The Goose be with us!
Saturday 23rd June
Gather in the street by the gates on Redcross Way, 6.45 for 7pm Crossbones Vigil for the Outcast.
This month we enter the 15th year of these Vigils, held on the 23rd of every month since June 2004, making this the 169th consecutive Vigil. We come together to honour the outcast, dead and alive, to renew the shrine at the gates, to reclaim the secret history as revealed by The Goose to John Crow – and to share our own acts of senseless beauty, love and restoration.
This month we also celebrate St John’s Eve, the traditional English midsummer festival, a night of magic…
Jennifer will conduct the Vigil with a little help from our friends of Crossbones – including you! Feel free to bring a memento or totem to tie to the gates, a poem, song or short personal testimony to share.
‘Goose may your spirit fly free!’
