See also:
Record keeping advice for parishes and Diocesan staff; archive policies and forms.
Visits
Diocesan personnel and external researchers are welcome to consult the documents in the Archive by appointment.
Please contact the Diocesan Archivist in advance to arrange a visit: archives@rcaos.org.uk
Opening hours: Monday: 8am-2pm; Tuesday: 8am-5pm
All readers must register and complete an Archive User Agreement form before being granted access to the archive material. External researchers must also show some identification on their first visit.
Catalogue
The Diocesan Archivist holds an Excel spreadsheet of all records in the Diocesan Archive and can search this on behalf of researchers.
The Archive collection is currently being catalogued using archive cataloguing software. As sections of the catalogue are completed, they are uploaded onto the Catholic Heritage website where they can be accessed. Please follow the link below to access this online catalogue. Please note that, for now, this catalogue only covers part of the Diocesan Archive collection but will be regularly added to.
Catalogue: https://archive.catholic-heritage.net/default.aspx
Enquiries
The Diocesan Archivist is happy to respond to enquiries. However, it is not possible for her to undertake detailed research on your behalf. In these incidences, enquirers are invited to visit the Archive or to arrange for someone to undertake research on their behalf. Please allow five working days for a response to emails.
Contact
Jenny Delves (working days: Monday and Tuesday)
E: archives@rcaos.org.uk
T: 020 7928 5592 (Please note that email is the preferred method of communication)
RC Archdiocese of Southwark
150 St George’s Rd
London
SE1 6HX
Parish registers
Parish registers (baptism, confirmation, marriage and death) are held by the local parish churches and not by the Diocesan Archives. Please contact the relevant parishes for enquiries, copies of certificates etc.
For information on the registers of the Metropolitan Cathedral Church of St George's, please email archives@stgeorges.org.uk.
Parish registers up to the year 1910 have been digitised by Findmypast and can be accessed through https://www.findmypast.co.uk/.
Records of the former Southwark Catholic Children’s Society
Records of the former Southwark Catholic Children’s Society are split between the Diocesan Archives and an organisation called Diagrama.
For information on the history of the Children’s Society, please contact the Diocesan Archive.
For information on children who were in care, child migrants or those who were adopted, please contact Diagrama
National Institute for Newman Studies
The National Institute for Newman Studies (https://www.newmanstudies.org/) has digitised 1402 items from the Diocesan Archive. These can be found here: Southwark Diocesan Archive records.
Location
We are located in the Amigo Hall beside St George’s Cathedral. Entry is through either through Gate 1 or Gate 2 on the map below. Gate 1 is located between the Diocesan Finance Office and CAFOD on Westminster Bridge Road. Gate 2 is located beside Amigo Hall on Lambeth Road. The Archivist will arrange to meet you at one of these gates.
Please note that the Archive is up a flight of external stone steps with toilet facilities down a flight of internal stairs. Please contact the Archivist in advance if this will cause you any difficulties.
