Events Verger (part-time)

Overview

We have an opportunity to join our dedicated team of vergers to uphold the dignity of worship in the Cathedral, to care for its security and to welcome all who enter it. The Vergers play an important part in ensuring the proper functioning of the Cathedral as a place of worship and for the many other roles and activities which it serves.

Main Responsibilities

Care of the Cathedral and its precincts

• Closing and locking-up at night, of the Cathedral and precincts.
• Sharing, with the other members of the verging team, the responsibility for internal maintenance and running of the Cathedral and precincts.
• Specialist duties including care and operation of the sound system and equipment; the care and operation of cleaning equipment; the operation of the heating system; and care and operation of the security and alarm systems.

Concerts and events

• Help with setting up and removal of all contents and furniture as necessary for concerts, events and services (including staging), and for their restoration afterwards.
• Acting as site supervisor during events and as point of contact for event organisers prior to, and during the events. Many of these events take place in the evenings and involve resetting the Cathedral after the event has finished, ready for the next day’s Morning Services.

Ministry of Welcome

• Provide a welcome to visitors as and when required, making sure that all visitors are received in a friendly, tactful and helpful manner. When it is necessary to be firm, this should be without giving offence.
• Support the work of the volunteer staff including Welcomers and Day Chaplains when required.

Security

• Keep a vigilant eye on the Cathedral and its precincts with regard to security, making regular checks on the buildings and helping to maintain a visible staff presence across the site.
• Ensure all valuables and money are looked after according to agreed instructions including regular emptying of alms boxes and votive candle offerings, handling collection money and its safe storage when required.
• Assist in the maintenance of good order throughout the Cathedral and its precincts and ensure that decorum is maintained within the Cathedral at all times.

The Ideal Candidate

• A good team player with the ability to relate equally well to paid and voluntary staff

• Displaying an understanding of worship and an appreciation of the importance of dignity

• A friendly and welcoming personality able to offer a warm welcome to all who visit or use the Cathedral for worship, for concerts and events or as tourists - even at the end of a long shift

• Enthusiastic, energetic and practical

• Able to work under pressure

• Competent in the use of basic Microsoft Office applications and email

• Good communication skills, both written and oral

• Able to reach all areas of the Cathedral Church and associated buildings without mechanical assistance, carry heavy loads and do such physical work as is required, including working at height

• Able to demonstrate sympathy with the aims and objectives of Southwark Cathedral

• Flexible and willing to work overtime and shift-work when required

• A clear basic DBS check will be required for this role

About us

The Cathedral is situated on the south bank of the Thames adjacent to London Bridge in a largely business area. It is also a Parish Church. Only a small number of people are actually resident in the parish which comprises large commercial offices, two hospitals, the Cathedral Primary School and the Borough Market.

The local area has undergone tremendous change with the opening of the Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern, the Millennium Footbridge and the Jubilee Line extension station at London Bridge as well as numerous other redevelopments including The Shard and re-developed London Bridge station.

The normal Sunday morning congregation is eclectic with the many visitors from all over the world.