If the shoe fits

While I was waiting to see the bishop yesterday, the deputy diocesan secretary presented me with a  pair of leather boots, and not just any boots, but St Crispin's boots.

When St Crispin's Church in Southwark Park Road closed for worship, St Crispin's boots were brought to the Diocesan offices and placed on the top of a cupboard where they have stayed ever since.

St Crispin is the patron saint of cobblers, tanners, and leatherworkers, and with Bermondsey such a centre historically of the leatherworking industry, the dedication of the Southwark Road Church was quite apt .

The picture (left) shows the boots,  suspended from the ceiling, being admired by local children during the St Crispin's Day celebrations at St Crispin's in October 1956.

St Crispin's parish is now part of St James parish - our official title is St James with Christchurch and St Crispin, and on that basis the deputy diocesan secretary said 'you can have the shoes if you want.'

They were a bit big to carry back on the bus, but next time I'm in the area with the car, perhaps its time for St Crispin's shoes to come back to Bermondsey.