Welcome from The Dean

I am absolutely delighted, as well as relieved, that we are now able to re-open the Cathedral.  It is true that for the time being this will only be possible for a certain number of hours each day, with some restrictions on numbers and distancing.   Nonetheless I hope everyone will feel able to come and enjoy the sense of peace and prayer that infuses our building, and perhaps to light a candle and pray for those most seriously affected by COVID-19, and for an end to the pandemic.  We know how important Portsmouth Cathedral is to many people, and the Government announcement allowing this first phase of re-opening was extremely welcome.

We will be open on Tuesday 16 June, from 11.00am – 2.00pm, and for the same period each day thereafter, including Sundays.   This will be kept under review, not least in relation to further advice and announcements from the Government and the national church.   We have been making careful plans over a number of weeks to ensure that the Cathedral is a safe environment for everyone, with staff always on hand, and a one-way system involving entry and exit through the south door.  More information is available here.

I look forward to welcoming all who would like to take this opportunity to return to Portsmouth Cathedral, or indeed to come for the first time.

With my prayers and best wishes,

Anthony

The Very Reverend Dr Anthony Cane

Dean of Portsmouth

Supporting Portsmouth Cathedral

Over past weeks we have been sharing some of the profound financial challenges that Portsmouth Cathedral faces. The Cathedral team has done everything possible to reduce expenditure and Chapter has approved revised budgets for 2020 and 2021 which see deep cuts of almost 40%. Even with such drastic measures, we will be unable to achieve balanced budgets and to continue our ministry in the way we aspire to without the support of our congregation.

We know many people are facing financially challenging circumstances. If you are able to, please consider making a new or increased regular or one-off donation to support our work. Every gift is hugely valued and very gratefully received. If you are a UK taxpayer, signing up for Gift Aid will enable us to claim an additional 25% of your donation from HMRC.

Ways to make a regular donation:

• By Direct Debit – via the Parish Giving Scheme by calling 0333 002 1271. Lines are open Monday-Friday between 9am and 5pm. You will need your bank details ready as well as this reference information: Church name: Portsmouth Cathedral, Parish Giving Scheme parish code: 290629001

• By Standing Order – please contact sophie.henstridge-brown@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk for our bank details and reference number

Ways to make a one-off donation:

• By bank transfer – please contact sophie.henstridge-brown@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk for our bank details

• By cheque – payable to ‘Portsmouth Cathedral Chapter’ and sent to the Cathedral Offices

• Online here. Please note that online donations incur a fee from the online provider, if you wish us to receive all of your donation and Gift Aid, please use bank transfer or cheque.

Thank you to everyone who has generously increased their giving recently, we are hugely grateful.

If you would like to talk about how your gift can make a difference, please contact our Head of Fundraising Sophie Henstridge-Brown on sophie.henstrdge-brown@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk.

In the notices this week:

• Farewell to the Revd Dr Ruth Tuschling, Diocesan Spirituality Advisor

• Welcoming Catherine Edenborough, Cathedral Curate

• Volunteers

• Appointments

• Sign up for the online Cathedral Quiz – Thursday 18 June, 7pm

• Weekly reflection from the Portsmouth Cathedral Ministry Team

• Do you need extra support during the COVID-19 pandemic?

• Resources

• Friends of the Cathedral - Important news about forthcoming events

Regular details of online worship, prayers and intercessions, Dr David Price’s weekly music choice and ways to contact the Cathedral.

Farewell to the Revd Dr Ruth Tuschling

Dr Ruth Tuschling, who has been the Diocesan Spirituality Adviser, Cathedral Honorary Chaplain and valued member of the Ministry Team since 2012, leaves the diocese at the end of this month.  We had an opportunity for the Cathedral Community to say farewell and thank you to Ruth last Sunday during our Coffee Hour.  She gave her final sermon during the live-streaming of Evensong on Sunday and her last service was Compline on Tuesday.  Donations towards a leaving gift can be made through the Cathedral Offices by cheque or BACS, please contact accounts@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk for details.

Welcoming Catherine Edenborough, Cathedral Curate

We are very much looking forward to welcoming our new Cathedral curate, Catherine Edenborough, who starts her ministry with us on 4 July.  Because of the current restrictions around the Coronavirus, ordinations cannot take place at the moment.  Catherine and her fellow 2020 curates will instead be licensed remotely by the Bishop on 4 July as lay workers, to enable them to begin their curacies and to minister in whatever way is possible at the time.  Future plans are of course tentative at the moment, but the Bishop hopes to hold the Deacons’ Ordination Service in the Cathedral on the Eve of Advent, 28 November, at 11 am.  Catherine introduces herself here.  Please hold her in your prayers as she prepares to begin her licenced ministry in these challenging times.

Canon Kathryn Percival

Volunteers

We are grateful for the support of our volunteers during this challenging time.  A letter with information on how our volunteers can help us reopen the Cathedral has been sent today.  Any volunteers who have not received an email should contact liz.snowball@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk.

Appointments

The Bishop has announced the appointment of:

• The Revd Judith Bee, Assistant Curate, Petersfield and Buriton, as an Honorary Canon and Adrian Jordan as a Lay Canon.

• The Venerable Martyn Gough, Archdeacon for the Royal Navy and Chaplain of the Fleet, and the Revd David Lindsay as Canons of Honour.

Sign up for the Cathedral Quiz - Thursday 18 June, 7pm

The second online Cathedral Quiz will take place on Thursday 18 June at 7pm.

We encourage you to join others and play in a team. Using Zoom, you will be able to discuss your answers with your team members during the quiz. If you’d like to play in a team but don’t yet have one, just let us know. You are also welcome to play on your own.

To participate you will need:

• Access to the internet as the quiz will be hosted on Zoom

• A pen and paper to write notes

• As much knowledge as you can muster

How to sign up

Please email sophie.henstridge-brown@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk with:

• Your name

• If you’re playing in a team, please include: the names of all your team members, one email address per household and the name of the team-member who will be in charge of collating your answers

• If you’re not yet in a team, please say whether you’d like to be allocated into a team, or if you will playing on your own

Joining details will be sent on Wednesday 17 June via email.

Weekly reflection

For the past few weeks we have been sharing a short reflection from members of the Ministry Team. You can see all of the previous videos on our YouTube channel here.

Do you need extra support during the COVID-19 pandemic?

If you would like to request help with shopping or collecting medication, posting mail, dog walking, gardening, topping up your gas/electricity key or just a friendly phone call. Please contact Compassionately Portsmouth, who are working with The Hive, Portsmouth, and have volunteers who would be happy to help. Tel: 07942 671194 - Monday to Friday between 9:00am to 5:00pm   or email- coordinator@compassionatelyportsmouth.org.uk

Further detail can be found here

Resources

Prayer and spiritual resources for use at home can be found under the Prayer and Family Resources tab on our website.  New this week in our Family Resources section is a link to Diddy Disciples – worship and storytelling for babies, toddlers, and young children.  Their ‘The Church At Home’ section is here .

Friends of the Cathedral - Important news about forthcoming events

In view of the ongoing Covid-19 situation, the Friends’ Annual General Meeting planned for Sunday 5 July is postponed until the autumn on a date to be announced in due course. The pilgrimage trip to Canterbury Cathedral linked to Becket 2020 planned for Tuesday 7 July has been cancelled. Those who had booked have been contacted. Please see the Friends Yearbook 2020 to be dispatched in July for future events.  If you would like to know more about membership please contact the Friends Office.

Music

With the welcome news that as well as permission to re-open churches over coming weeks, organists are now allowed to enter churches to practice the organ when the buildings are not open for private prayer. Here is a splendid piece by Josef Bonnet – ‘Variations de Concert’ played by Adrian Lucas (Organist of Portsmouth 1990-1996) and recorded here in 1995. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ9WyJMrqaA&list=OLAK5uy_l57OvzLH2Kyv1NqrDGBosWXX2FWm-HVpk&index=2&t=0s

RSCM Big Sunday

Members of our cathedral choirs, as well as singers from across the diocese and further afield are taking part in the Royal School of Church Music’s Big Sing for Music Sunday 2020. The service which you can watch on YouTube on Sunday at 6pm also features our own Director of Music conducting part of the service as he marks his retirement from the Council of the RSCM after 20 years’ service.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRQivlwyTqw

Online worship

Monday-Saturday                            

8.15am Morning Prayer                    
5.30pm Evening Prayer              
8.30pm Compline

Plus Toddler Group on Wednesdays at 2.00pm via Facebook

Sunday

9.00am Holy Communion, followed by online coffee at 10.00am
5.30pm Evening Prayer
8.30pm Compline

How to join the services

You do not need to be a member of Facebook to join the services. Please use this link. when the service is about to begin. You will see a prompt asking you to join Facebook, just click ‘not now’. Orders of service for our Sunday Eucharist’s, Compline, and special services, can be found on the Resources Section of our website here

How to join the online Sunday Coffee Hour

Coffee is hosted on Zoom. In order to maintain security details will be sent with our emailed notices.

Prayers and Intercessions

Please join us in praying this prayer as we look forward to re-opening our Cathedral

Holy God,
as we open our doors
and welcome in those who will come
may we recognise you among them.
As we make our churches safe to enter
and care for those who come
may we recognise you
as our strong defence.
As we say our prayers and light our candles
may we recognise you in the midst.
As we resume our life and live our life
may we recognise you as our life
today, tomorrow, and always.  Amen.

Cathedral Prayers

All those preparing for licenced ministry including Catherine Edenborough and those who were to have been ordained Priest next month, Hannah Barraclough, Matthew Grove and Jack Williams.

We give thanks for Grant, Michael and Richard’s improvement in health

All those affected by COVID-19

We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Christopher, Peter, Stephen, Paul, Marinus, Chris, Colin, Philippa, Terry, Sally, David, John, Bob, Derek, Nigel, Trevor, Emrys, Reuben, Andrew, Jonathan, Melissa, Mary, Laurence, Clare, Anne and all those in need.

All those who have died: Mavis Morris, Roberta Flowers and Terry Colliver RIP.

Requesting an addition to the prayer list

To add someone to the prayer list, please email info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

Getting in touch

We know that this is a lonely and anxious time for many people. Please feel free to get in touch if we can help in any way, or if you just want to hear another voice!

By phone:                                                                                                                                      

The Dean: 023 9282 4400                             

Canon Kathryn Percival: 023 9289 2967

Canon Jo Spreadbury: 023 9275 2335

Messages can also be left on the cathedral phone system 023 9282 3300 and will be responded to as necessary.     

By email: (please note that the Cathedral internet connection is being changed on Thursday afternoon which may result in some delay in replying to email)

The Dean Anthony.Cane@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

Canon Kathryn Percival Kathryn.Percival@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

Canon Jo Spreadbury Jo.Spreadbury@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

For pastoral matters pastoral@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

General matters info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk