Welcome from Kitty Price

Forgive me for stating the obvious, but VE 75 is being celebrated in very different ways than initially anticipated.

The coming out of war in Europe must have been a mixed bag, with Life Not Being The Same As It Was Before. For many that involved grief, a change in fortunes, having to readjust the dynamics of family life, finding a different mindset and status quo.

Talk about easing lockdown can also invite similar reactions. I by no means wish to offend anyone and recognise that years of war is not the same as weeks and months of COVID-19 life. But unusual circumstances upset our equilibrium.

At evening prayer on Monday the Old Testament reading was about the mess the liberated Israelites made while Moses was up Mount Sinai waiting for the Ten Commandments. Moses went from being praised to criticised - what have you brought us here for, at least we were reasonably safe in Egypt. Freedom wasn’t quite what they expected.

I recently finished watching the drama series Unorthodox, exploring the experience of a young Hasidic Jew who flees her community on a journey of self-discovery. It wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies - her freedom came at a cost.

Through all these experiences of shifting sands, God is our eternal refuge. He is constant even if we are not. In the evening prayer responsory we said “The Lord is my strength and my song: he has become my salvation.”

Life throws battles of varying size and severity, but the word of the Lord does indeed endure for ever. Alleluia. Amen.

Kitty Price
Cathedral Reader

Portsmouth Cathedral - our future

The Cathedral, before the advent of the Cornavirus, had significant financial challenges. COVID-19, the ensuing lockdown and the very likely medium to longer term impact on the economy have only made things more challenging.

In response to this the Cathedral is using the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and furloughed nearly 80% of staff including all the choirs, has cut all but the most essential expenditure and required sign-off by the Dean and/or Chief Operating Officer before any financial commitments can be made.

Chapter has met four times since the 26th March including the evening of 6th May 2020.  These meetings were primarily to consider the financial future of the Cathedral in the face of these challenges. Chapter has now approved a revised 2020 budget and a provisional budget for 2021.

The overall ambition is to return to 2011 annual spending levels of £677,000, the last year before the large legacy was received and the last year the Cathedral budget was balanced. 

This approach will see the Cathedral operating on the funds it receives or generates each year rather than drawing down from limited reserves for day-to-day operations. The emerging new Strategy and Vision will inform how the Cathedral prioritises it activities in light of these necessary budgetary decisions.

The revised 2020 budget has an in-year reduction in spending of £290,000 reducing expenditure from £1.092 million to just over £800,000. 

The provisional 2021 budget is set with expenditure of £677,000 giving a projected deficit of £134,000.  The projected deficit being due to the variable income including that from  rentals and investments which  is not expected to return to 2019 levels by then. However, even after allowing for this variation, the deficit figure still sees the Cathedral drawing down from reserves to pay day-to-day bills.

Therefore alongside cost containment, our efforts must focus on raising additional revenue. Growing income from commercial events is likely to be very challenging in the short to medium term given the economic climate and competition from other more established events venues. As a result, philanthropic donations will become even more vital than they were before.

Our fundraising efforts led by our new Head of Fundraising and Events Sophie Henstridge-Brown, will focus on raising money for the core areas of our work including engagement with local communities and through schools, music and choirs, and the maintenance and conservation of our building. On behalf of the Chapter, Sophie should be the first port of call for anyone interested in understanding how they personally, or organisations they may know, can help the Cathedral meet its challenges this year and on a long term, regular basis. Sophie’s email is sophie.henstridge-brown@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk. We will also be sharing more information about how you can help in the coming weeks.

We are very grateful to those who have already offered additional donations or made a new or increased commitment to supporting the Cathedral.

A congregational meeting via Zoom will be held during May.  Details in the Notices next week. This meeting will follow a Cathedral Council meeting on 19 May 2020.

Richard Abraham

Chief Operating Officer (Chapter Clerk)

Supporting the Cathedral

In common with many other organisations and individuals, Portsmouth Cathedral is facing an almost unprecedented economic situation which presents serious challenges to us financially.  Please speak with our Head of Fundraising and Events, Sophie Henstridge-Brown by email or phone (023 9289 2964 and leave a message) if you would like to make a donation or change your current giving arrangements.

Every gift is valued and very gratefully received.

In the notices this week:

• VE Day and the Big Picnic for Hope

• Online Cathedral Pub Quiz

• Christian Aid

• Daily Hope - new telephone service from the Church of England

• Lighting a candle for a loved one

• Resources for Families

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

75th Anniversary of VE Day

Big Picnic for Hope - Friday 8 May

The Big Picnic for Hope is an opportunity for households to be part of a virtual get together on 8 May to honour our heroes past and present. We might be living in lockdown and unable to gather for street parties or celebrations, but we can still celebrate the key worker heroes of our new ‘homefront’. The project also serves an opportunity to recognise that these times are difficult for many people. The national campaign is aiming to fundraise for the Trussell Trust, and in Portsmouth we are asking for donations towards the Roberts Centre, an organisation working to support the most vulnerable families and people in our area.

How to participate

Whether you are on your own or with other people at home, have a picnic in your home or garden.

Ahead of time, share your ideas about what to bake and make online using the hashtag #bigpicnicforhope to help inspire others to get involved. 

On the day itself, share your pictures with Portsmouth Cathedral on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #bigpicnicforhope. If you are able, consider making a donation to the Roberts Centre here.

Portsmouth Cathedral VE Day Service - Sunday 10 May, 11.00am

Join us for a service of readings and music as we remember the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. We will be welcoming the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire and representatives from the Armed Forces to give readings, with music from Portsmouth Cathedral Choirs. The service will be broadcast on the Cathedral’s YouTube channel at 11am on Sunday 10 May.

Online Cathedral Pub Quiz

Brush up on your trivia because we are running Portsmouth Cathedral’s first ever online Pub Quiz on Wednesday 13 May at 6pm hosted by quizmasters Gareth Hemmings, Sophie Henstridge-Brown and David Price.

You can play on your own or in a team. If you’d like to play in a team but don’t yet have one, just let us know.

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

You can sign up to play in a team or on your own. 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 and one email address per household

• 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 Tuesday 12 May via email.

Christian Aid Week

Christian Aid Week runs from 10-16 May and this year takes the theme of ‘Love never fails’.

As Covid-19 spreads across the world, love rises up in response. Christian Aid is encouraging everyone to reach out to your neighbours both near and far. It is a sad fact that Covid-19 disproportionately affects those from more deprived backgrounds and those living in already precarious positions. Many vulnerable people do not even have access to clean water to wash their hands.

Each year the Portsmouth Cathedral community raises an average of £2,000 during Christian Aid Week, and we hope to do so again this year.

You can donate to Christian Aid here https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/key-appeals/christian-aid-week where you will also find details of e-envelopes you can send.

Daily Hope

The Church of England’s free national phone line is a simple new way to bring worship and prayer into people’s homes, especially those who are not able to access the internet. Daily Hope offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England.

The number is 0800 804 8044 and is available 24 hours a day.

Please help us to get the word out to those who do not have internet access, or to anyone who you think would benefit from Daily Hope.

Lighting a virtual candle for a loved one

We may not be able to light candles in the Cathedral for our loved ones, but the Church of England website now allows you to light a virtual candle and make space to remember someone special to you.

Click here to light a candle.

Resources for Families

New for this week:  some reflective activities from the BeSpace charity, to help us to be the people God wants us to be, and a special prayer for children to use.

Music

This week’s music excerpt is from Ola Gjeilo’s Mass for Peace. We sang part of this new work in 2018 and we’ve just heard that the rest is nearing completion. We hope to premier this later in 2020.

https://www.facebook.com/portsmouthcathedral/videos/347360332736534/?vh=e

A notice about Church of England funerals

We are aware that there has been confusing media coverage on the subject of Church of England funerals. Church of England funerals continue to take place in churchyards, gravesides and at crematoria. We are here to support you, and you can be in touch with a member of the clergy using the contact details below.

Online worship

Monday-Saturday                            

8.15am Morning Prayer                    

5.30pm Evening Prayer              

8.30pm Compline during Eastertide       

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 during Eastertide    

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’. We regret that it is not technically possible to add captions to the broadcasts.

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

A prayer during COVID-19

O God,
help me to trust you,
help me to know that you are with me,
help me to believe that nothing can separate me 
from your love
revealed in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Cathedral Prayers

We remember in our prayers all those who are affected by COVID-19 as well as those from our own Cathedral Community who have asked for our prayers: Christopher, Michael, Richard, Stephen, Paul, Marinus, Chris, Colin, Jan, Philippa, Terry, Sally, David, John, Bob, Barry, Tim, Derek, Joey, Nigel, Trevor, Roy, Emrys, Reuben, Neil, Andrew, Jonathan, Peter, Grant, Melissa, Mary and all those in need.

All those who have died: Derek Bastide, Joan Moult, Terry Carter (priest), John Codling, David Swann, Colin Butcher, John Robinson and John Pethrick 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:

For pastoral matters pastoral@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

General matters info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk.