Welcome from the Canon Chancellor

“England expects every man to do his duty”.

These words, flown in a flag signal by Nelson from HMS Victory, are emblazoned on the Trafalgar Memorial, on Southsea seafront.  I found myself looking at them with fresh eyes this Trafalgar Day, as joining them nearby are signs with some 21st century expectations:  social distancing placards, warning us to keep two metres apart, and to do what is necessary to avoid passing on Covid 19.  In this new battle, England expects each of us to do our duty.

And we are labouring under its weight.  We have learned to do what is expected of us. And we have learned to judge our neighbours if they fall short of those expectations.  Some are learning that England expects them to delay their treatment, or lose their livelihoods, or be isolated from their families.  And by contrast, babies are not learning, as we hear from some child development experts: this year’s new-borns  might be struggling to smile, because so many of the world’s smiles are hidden.  It can perhaps feel as if England is expecting too much – as if our duty is too burdensome.

And yet in the Eucharistic Prayer we will use this Sunday, we will say that it is both ‘our duty and our joy’ to thank and praise God always and everywhere.  We are especially giving thanks this Bible Sunday that Jesus is the Word of God, who opens to us the living word of the Scriptures.

And through this living word, through the story of our salvation, we learn that God does not give us challenge without hope.  That he does not give us duty without joy.  That he does not place on us expectation without ultimately giving us the grace to fulfil it, through his strength alone. 

The Trafalgar Memorial on the base of which those famous words are inscribed is an anchor from the Victory:  a ship named in hopeful anticipation of what was to come on the far side of battle.   If we are anchored in Jesus Christ, we also have through him the pledge of victory on the far side of the world’s battles, and the hope which will sustain us through this time and beyond.

Kathryn’s welcome can also be watched here.

The Revd Canon Kathryn Percival
Canon Chancellor

Visiting the Cathedral

Portsmouth Cathedral is open every day and all are welcome.

Services and Worship

We hold services at Portsmouth Cathedral every day. Find out more about our services here.

Our choir will take a two-week break over half term. Online Evening Prayer replaces Choral Evensong, Monday to Friday. Please check the service list for details of services.

Online Services

Many services from the Cathedral are broadcast on Facebook. We also broadcast Morning Prayer and Compline daily from the homes of our ministry team. Find about more about our online services here.

Orders of service can be found on the Resources Section of our website here.

Prayers and Intercessions

We pray for all those affected by COVID-19.

We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Clare, Bob, Derek, Nigel, Trevor, Izzy, Jenny, Clare, Bishop Peter Hancock, Laurence, Sylvia, Robert, Andy, Michael, Sarah, Sheila, and all those in need.

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

In the notices this week:

Upcoming Services and Events

• Bible Discussion Group

• All Souls Services

• Author event: A Conversation with Sarah Meyrick - Wednesday 4 November

Community News

• Cathedral Council and Chapter News

• Lay Clerk honoured with prestigious fellowship

• Safeguarding SCIE Audit – June 2021

• Cathedral Shop

• Cathedral Offices

• Thank you for supporting Portsmouth Cathedral

Upcoming Services and Events

Bible Discussion Group 

Our Bible Discussion Group continues on Thursdays at 7.00 pm. The link for this week’s meeting will be sent out with the email version of the notices. We will be looking at John 1.19-end. Newcomers are most welcome, and if you don’t have a Bible at home, just look up the reference at bible.oremus.org.

All Souls Services

All Souls is an opportunity for us to remember and give thanks for those we love but see no more. This year there are three services you can attend:

Eucharist for All Souls: Sunday 1 November at 5.30 pm. A reflective service of music and readings including the Requiem by Gabriel Fauré sung by the Cathedral Consort.

Eucharist of Requiem: Monday 2 November at 5.30 pm. A reflective service with music sung by the Cathedral Choral Scholars.

Eucharist of Remembrance: Sunday 8 November at 5.30 pm. A Eucharistic service where the Cathedral Choir will sing the Duruflé Requiem.

We will read out the names of loved ones who have departed in the past 12 months at the Eucharist for All Souls. To submit a name of a close family member or friend who has passed away in the last 12 months, please email info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk by Thursday 29 October at 3.00 pm.

Faith, Family, and Forgiveness - Vocation and the Novel: Sarah Meyrick in conversation with Canon Angela Tilby - Wednesday 4 November at 7.00 pm

Sarah Meyrick’s novels, Knowing Anna and The Restless Wave, explore powerful themes of love, grief and grace.  As well as being a novelist, she is a Lay Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford and the Director of the Bloxham Festival of Faith and Literature. Come and hear her in conversation with Canon Angela Tilby, via Zoom, at 7.00 pm on 4 November. Her novels are available from the Cathedral Shop, and the Zoom link will be sent out with the email version of the notices.

Community News

Cathedral Council and Chapter News

A joint meeting of Cathedral Council and Chapter took place via Zoom on Tuesday, 20 September 2020. 

The meeting began with a presentation from the Head of Fundraising and Events, Sophie Henstridge-Brown, about her work since she joined the Cathedral team in February including an overview of the successful funding applications.

The Chief Operating Officer gave an overview of activities in and around the Cathedral since the Council last met in May 2020 including efforts that will see the budgeted deficit reduced to under £200,000 for 2020.

Council and Chapter reviewed and commented upon the proposed 2021 budget that they had provisionally approved at their May meeting. The formal approval and receiving of the 2021 budget will now take place at the November meetings of Chapter and Council.

The Dean provided a brief update on the next steps with the Cathedral’s new Vision and Strategy. He also gave an update on the new Cathedral Measures that if agreed by Synod this autumn will see the end of Cathedral councils in their current form.

Lay Clerk honoured with prestigious fellowship

Dr Bryn Hughes, a longstanding member of the choir’s back row, has been honoured by his peers in being made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

The honour was recognition of his outstanding and continuing contribution to the profession.  It is a huge honour with only 1600 Engineering Fellowships world-wide. Many congratulations Bryn.

Safeguarding SCIE Audit

The audit of the Cathedral’s safeguarding practice and procedures that had originally been scheduled for June 2020 but was delayed because of Covid has now been rescheduled for 22-24 June 2021. This audit, by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), is a hugely beneficial opportunity for the Cathedral to review current policy and practice to help to ensure that the Cathedral is a safe and welcoming environment for all.

The Chapter Safeguarding Lead is Canon Kathryn Percival Kathryn.Percival@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk and the Lay Safeguarding Representative is Marian Pottinger laysafeguardportsmouth@gmail.com.

Cathedral Shop

Portsmouth Cathedral’s shop has reopened, with a limited range of products including books, cards and CDs. With Advent and Christmas around the corner, we will also be selling festive products including Advent calendars, Advent candles and Christmas Cards.  We are very grateful to all the Shop Volunteers for making it possible to reopen and run the shop. 

Opening times are available here.

Cathedral Offices

The Cathedral Offices are currently closed to visitors. A limited number of staff will be in the office on weekdays. Most staff are now working from home in line with Government guidance.

Aggies Weston - Families Pastoral Worker Vacancy

Aggies Weston (http://www.aggies.org.uk/ ) is a Christian Charity that supports the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and their families through the provision of Pastoral Workers in military bases and establishments around the country.

They are recruiting a part-time Families Pastoral Worker to work within the Portsmouth area service community.   For further details please visit www.aggies.org.uk/vacancies or email office@aggies.org.uk. Closing date for applications 8 November 2020.

Thank you for supporting Portsmouth Cathedral

A huge thank you to everyone who has responded generously to our requests to consider your support of Portsmouth Cathedral. Since March over twenty people have committed to making regular donations or increasing their regular support. Many have also made one off donations to help us through this difficult time.

Thank you for your generosity and your trust.

If you would like to find out more about supporting Portsmouth Cathedral, speak with our Head of Fundraising Sophie Henstridge-Brown on Sophie.Henstridge-Brown@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk or look at our website.

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!                                                                                                                     

The Dean: 023 9282 4400 or Anthony.Cane@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

Canon Jo Spreadbury 023 9275 2335 or Jo.Spreadbury@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

Cathedral Curate, Revd Catherine Edenborough: 023 9282 3300 extn 221 or Catherine.Edenborough@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk (Usual days at the Cathedral: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday)

Messages can also be left on the Cathedral phone system 023 9282 3300 or by email to info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk or pastoral@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk.