Community...

Baby and Toddler Group

This group which is very important not only in enabling mutual support amongst parents and carers of young children but also in introducing them to our Cathedral life and worship, continues to be well supported with about 25 families on the books. They meet on Wednesdays in term time at 2pm in the Cathedral for an informal act of worship followed by play and a cup of tea.

Wednesday afternoons  2.00 - 2.15 starting in St Thomas's Chapel

and then 2.15 - 3.15 tea/coffee and play in Cathedral House.

A voluntary donation of £1 per family is requested to cover costs and special group events.

Cathedral Sunday School

A Sunday School meets during the 10.30am service each Sunday except the 3rd Sunday (Informal Eucharist) in the School Room in the Cloister.  The children are invited to come for a blessing during the Administration of Communion and then to stay for the remainder of the service.

The Cathedral Club meets on Thursdays afternoons at 2.45pm in Becket Hall, dates as published, in term time.  Talks and/or slide-shows are given, on a wide variety of subjects, with speakers from round and about the Portsmouth area.  Annual membership, payable in September is £8 but visitors are always welcome at £2 per evening.  The current programme is here.

St Thomas's Parish Choir often has vacancies for child and adult members.  The choir sings weekly at the 9.30am service on Sundays and with the Cathedral Choir at special services during the year.  Rehearsals are held at the Cathedral on Fridays from 7.00pm to  8.00pm.   For further details or to arrange an informal audition, contact the Cathedral Sub-Organist,  by email or telephone 023 9282 3300.

Guides and Welcomers

The Guild of Guides is now over 50 years old and will hold it's AGM on 4 March. The Guides and Welcomers are the first point of contact for many people who visit our historic building.   They work closely together to give the visitor a friendly, helpful and memorable reception.  

Welcomers sit at the desk inside the south door.   Here they give an initial friendly welcome and direct visitors to the appropriate office, to the duty Guide, or into the church where they may light a candle, reflect quietly, or say a prayer.    Visitors who would like to learn more about the Cathedral are handed a leaflet which is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Japanese; it shows dates of the major events which influenced the building.  

A "4th Edition - 2004" of "The Guides' Guide" was funded by a generous donation from a charitable trust which covered the entire production costs. Published by the Portsmouth Cathedral Chapter, this edition has been completely revised by the Research Group who are continuing their important work by issuing in-depth papers on specific artefacts or developments within the Cathedral.

The 'Ministry of Welcome' is an important and vital part of the daily life of the Cathedral. All the volunteers are fully trained.   If you enjoy meeting people and would like to know more about becoming a volunteer Guide or Welcomer please contact the Cathedral Office.

Intercessions Group

The Monday Morning Intercessions Group meets in the Cathedral from 10.00am to 10.30am.  We welcome not only people who are called to a regular commitment but also those who want to come occasionally.

Bell Ringing

PORTSMOUTH CATHEDRAL BELLS

Eight bells were hung in the Cathedral in 1703, a gift from Admiral Sir George Rooke, then Member of Parliament for Portsmouth.

On 31 July 1749 a full peal of 5,040 changes of Grandsire Triples was rung and is recorded on a peal board in the ringing room.

John Taylor & Co. of Loughborough attended to the bells and re-hung them with new clappers in 1912. The old clappers are now contained in an oak frame made from timber from the old bell frame and are on display in the ringing room.

In 1957 two more bells were cast and hung by John Taylor.

In 2009 two new bells were cast by Taylor Eayre & Smith Ltd at their foundry in Loughborough, they were hung in March 2010, bringing the ring up to twelve bells whose lovely sound we hear today.

The TENOR bell weighs 25 cwt 2 qtrs (1,295 kgs). The inscription on it says:

'We good people all to prayer do call. We honour to King and brides joy do bring. Good Tydings we tell and ring the Death's knell. Recast by the Parishoners.'

PEALS (5,000 or more changes) are rung on special occasions - such as Maundy Thursday 1998 when the Queen distributed the Royal Maundy in this Cathedral.

The Cathedral Ringers also ring for Sunday services, weddings, blessings, and the New Year, and quarter peals in memoriam and in celebration. There have been several successful peal attempts - a sequence of over 5,000 changes without a repeat of a change, which takes approximately 3 hours to complete without a break!

We are always on the lookout for new recruits and we are pleased to welcome visitors to the Tower on our Thursday practice nights at 7.30pm – meet outside the North Door of the Cathedral.

The practices on Thursday evenings and Sunday service ringing are organised by the Tower Captain/Ringing Master. Ringers and visitors are welcome to the Tower by prior arrangement. For further information please contact the Tower Captain, Ian Carey. 

Portsmouth Cathedral Handbell Group

A small group of seven meets every Thursday evening in the Cathedral. It as played at Cathedral Coffee Mornings and at a founder member's funeral - a great accolade. If you are interested in joining this group contact Cathedral Office 023 9282 3300.

Flower Arranging

The Cathedral Flower Guild needs more recruits: Could this be you?   Arranging flowers is part of our offering of service and worship.   It is also a very relaxing and enjoyable way to spend a morning.   Most of us are complete amateurs and with help from our team we have managed to produce some pretty good work (or so we have been told!). If you can only arrange at Easter, Harvest and Christmas - welcome. If you can be a member of one of the three teams who arrange flowers every six weeks or so - even better.

We are grateful to Audrey Whitehead and the Needlecraft Group for organising a coffee morning each year with all proceeds going to the Flower Guild.   We are self-funded and rely on events and donations so the group's contribution is most welcome.  

The Easter Lily book and donations in memory of loved ones enables us to fill the Cathedral with lilies and visitors come specially to see (and smell) them.   If you would like to remember an anniversary during the year, a floral arrangement can be made specially - contact the Cathedral Office.

During the Summer we hope to use flowers from around the world - look out for some pretty unusual flowers!  

Further information from Cathedral Office tel: 023 9289 2968

or email: rosemary.fairfax@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

Cathedral Needlecraft Group

The Needlecraft group meets once a month, usually the first Thursday, in Cathedral House from 2.30pm to 4.00pm. 

The aim of these meetings is to extend the hand of friendship, welcoming new people to the group and exchanging ideas amongst those who enjoy sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet.  For those who are unable to attend our meetings, we pass on and collect work. 

Without the generous gifts of material, wools, etc. from the congregation and kind friends, we would be unable to continue our work.  Surprise bags are always being left for us - many thanks.  Our prayers are for your continued support to make these events successful.

1st Portsmouth Cubs

The Cubs meet on Wednesdays evenings in Cathedral House.

Brownies

The Brownies meet on Monday evenings in Cathedral House.

For more information contact Joanne, through Cathedral Office 023 9282 3300.

12th Portsmouth Cathedral Guides

The Guides meet on Monday evenings in Cathedral House.

If anyone is interested in joining the Guides they can contact Judith Burr, Guide Guider, through Cathedral Office 023 9282 3300.

Think about the things that are true and honourable and right and
pure and beautiful and respected…And the God who gives peace will be with you.
PHILIPPIANS 4:8-9