Doorkins Magnificat

Doorkins Magnificat was a stray tabby who wandered into Southwark Cathedral in London around 2008 and simply decided to stay. The cathedral staff began feeding her, gave her a wonderfully ecclesiastical name — a pun on the Magnificat — and she became the cathedral's beloved resident cat for over a decade. Doorkins roamed the medieval building as if she owned it, curling up on chairs, wandering across the nave during services, and famously sleeping near the crib at Christmas. She met Queen Elizabeth II during a royal visit in 2013 (and, true to feline form, was reportedly unimpressed). She grew into a genuine celebrity, with her own picture book and a devoted following among visitors and worshippers. When she died in 2020, the cathedral held a special service of thanksgiving for her life — a remarkable tribute that drew crowds and media attention, and a testament to how completely one small stray had woven herself into the life of a great London church.