Southwark cathedral called ‘insensitive’ after holding funeral for a stray cat

The Dean of Southwark held a memorial service for a cat who spent much of her life at the cathedral. 

Bishop of Burnley Phillip North called the memorial ‘grossly insensitive’ to have a funeral for a cat while so many are still under coronavirus restrictions.

But Rev Nunn said the animal, named Doorkins Magnificat, ‘brought domestic to a place’ that is often seen as ‘unwelcoming to those who don’t see themselves reflected in our life’.

The stray cat died on September 30 of liver failure after a full life that included meeting the Queen, sleeping in the nativity crib at Christmas time, and napping beneath the coffin of the cathedral’s late Dean during his funeral service.

She even became the star of a children’s book and had her own social media accounts. She was laid to rest in the cathedral garden after a group of 30 lovingly remembered her at a thanksgiving ceremony. 

Doorkins Magnificat started living at the cathedral in 2013 when she was welcomed in by Head verger Paul Timms after surviving on scraps of food from Borough Market traders. 

Despite hopes she would help keep mice out of the cathedral she spent her life sauntering through the aisle and napping on the chairs of revered church officials. 

After the London Bridge attack in June 2017 the Cathedral closed its doors for security reasons and Doorkins Magnificat was locked out. 

After getting back in, she didn’t leave again until her health began to fail and she retired to Timms’ home where she spent her last days.

Bishop of Burnley Phillip North, said: ‘Is this a joke? I do hope so. If not it’s grossly insensitive to bereaved families and those ministering to them in the North West under the regional coronavirus restrictions.’

But he was slapped down by others, including Paolo Thomas, who wrote: ‘What an unpleasant, small-minded, grossly insensitive and un-Christian thing to say and think.

‘Shame on you. You should apologise. Doorkins’ beautiful soul touched and brought pleasure to many people’s lives, including mine. May she rest peacefully.’

During the service, Rev Nunn, told the congregation: ‘She did more to bring people to this place than I will ever do.

‘Some may think that cats don’t deserve ceremonies and eulogies and prayers, that their death should pass without comment or occasion but I can’t agree and I’m not particularly a cat person, or at least I wasn’t before I met her, but this little cat, who arrived at our door, who chose us and stayed changed our lives and enhanced our mission and ministry.’

Head verger Paul Timms said: ‘The challenge is not so much about why, we as a community would dare to have a service for a cat in the middle of a pandemic, but why it should it be that the church seems to be, in so many places, unwelcoming to those who don’t see themselves reflected in our life.

‘Why should it take a stray, feral, and, at times, unfriendly cat to bring the domestic to a place that couldn’t domesticate her.

‘Why did we, who pride ourselves on a tradition of inclusion, need a cat to actually understand what the stranger in the midst really means?

‘She passed away peacefully in my arms that evening to the sound of a familiar voice.

‘It is only fitting, then, that she should be remembered in this way for all the joy, pleasure and comfort she gave to so many people who could identify with her story – a story that mirrored aspects of our human condition, stories of care, hospitality to strangers, comfort friendship, companionship, unconditional love.’

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