Welcome from the Canon Chancellor

‘Stay alert.’  The next big slogan was never going to be easy, and there’s certainly been quite a backlash against this one.  Amidst a plethora of entertaining internet memes, one of the implicit criticisms has been that it’s hard to stay vigilant about something that’s real but invisible.

And yet that’s just what we are called to do in this Easter season.  Not in fear or confusion, though those who experienced the Resurrection first hand knew both these emotions.  But instead in joy and hope and expectation.  Jesus, who before his death tells those around him to stay awake and keep watch, is risen and here among us.  And if we are alert to his presence, we will see him.  We will see him in the new life springing up around us.  In the presence of someone we love, even if that presence is virtual.  In the energy and vitality which overcomes despair.  And now, slogans or not, we will see him in the glimmers of freedom which are starting to come back to our lives.  We do not know quite how they will work out, or even how long they will last, but he is in them. 

This Sunday, we are able to live-stream our main service from the Cathedral itself.  This can only be done by one priest, under very strict conditions:  it is only a small loosening of the restrictions.  And as Paul says in Sunday’s reading from Acts, and as we know for ourselves in these times, God does not live in shrines.  But it will enable us to see worship from within the building once again.

Our building speaks to us of the beauty and truth of Christ crucified and risen; its stones have layered within them the prayers and songs, the mourning and dancing, of ages.  It speaks of the lived experience of those who have gone before us, and is a sign of the hope we have for those who come after us.  It is a powerful place of encounter between humanity and the divine.  This is why it moves us to cry, as Jacob does after his dream, ‘This is none other than the house of God.’  This is not about containing him:  it is about recognising him.  And if we stay alert to his presence, we will always be blessed by it.  As Jesus says to his disciples:  ‘In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.’

The Revd Canon Kathryn Percival
Canon Chancellor

Update on the use of the Cathedral buildings

Portsmouth Cathedral is continuing to abide by the guidance from the Bishop of Portsmouth and the House of Bishops on accessing our buildings. Following a meeting of the House of Bishops this week, we can confirm:

• The Cathedral remains closed to all members of the public

• The Sunday morning Holy Communion will be broadcast from the Cathedral from Sunday 17 May on Facebook Live. In line with guidance, it will be led by one member of the clergy, with one member of their household present

• We will continue to broadcast all other services from the homes of our Ministry Team for the time being on Facebook Live

• We will continue to mark Feast Days and other important events online

Although funerals cannot currently take place in the Cathedral, 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.

Portsmouth Cathedral - our future

The Cathedral, before the advent of the Coronavirus, 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.

The Cathedral’s immediate response to Covid-19 has included:

• using the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and furloughing nearly 80% of staff including all the choirs;

• cutting all but the most essential expenditure;

• requiring sign-off by the Dean and/or Chief Operating Officer before any financial commitments can be made;

• Chapter meeting four times since the 26th March including the evening of 6th May 2020, 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 which involves significant cuts to expenditure:

• 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.

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

• The provisional 2021 budget sets expenditure of £677,000 with a projected deficit of £134,000.

Even with very deep cuts in expenditure, we still project deficits into 2021. This is because variable income streams (e.g. from rentals and investments) are not expected to return to 2019 levels quickly. 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 also 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.

Richard Abraham

Chief Operating Officer (Chapter Clerk)

Congregational meeting – 24 May, 10.00am

Please join us for a congregational meeting hosted by the Dean on Zoom on Sunday 24 May at 10am. This will be an opportunity for you to ask questions about the important budget changes the Cathedral Chapter has approved, and to share your thoughts on the financial future of the Cathedral.

Joining details will be sent in the email notices next week.

Nominate us to receive £1,000 from Movement for Good

Insurance company Ecclesiastical are giving away grants of £1,000 from their Movement for Good fund. The 500 charities that receive the most nominations will receive £1,000 each.

In these difficult financial times, £1,000 will make a real difference to the Cathedral. We would use this money to:

• support our online broadcasting of services which are proving hugely popular and important to both existing and new members of the congregation

• help us plan for the reopening of the Cathedral with confidence

Please help by nominating us today!

The deadline for nominations is Sunday 24th May at midnight. Please nominate the Portsmouth Cathedral Development Trust, registered charity number 295024. Please choose the ‘Community’ category from the drop-down menu.

In the notices this week:

• Portsmouth City Council Annual Meeting

• Cathedral Council

• Looking back on the 75th Anniversary of VE Day

• Christian Aid Week

• Results from the first online Cathedral Quiz

• Rogation: Pictures and Prayers

• Mental Health Awareness Week

• Resources for Families

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

Portsmouth City Council Annual Meeting

The Dean and the Revd Tracey Ansell, Minister at North End Baptist Church, as Chaplains to Portsmouth City Council will be saying prayers at this year’s Annual Meeting of the City Council on Tuesday 19th May at 10.00am, which includes the election of the new Lord Mayor.  The meeting will be live streamed though https://livestream.com/accounts/14063785/council-19may2020. 

Cathedral Council

The Cathedral Council meets on Tuesday to receive the revised 2020 Budget and 2019 Annual Accounts. The congregational representatives on the Cathedral Council are Shirley Grayson-Smith and Nick Speller who can be contacted through the Cathedral Offices.

Looking back on the 75th Anniversary of VE Day

It was wonderful to see so many people in our Parish and communities up and down the country marking VE Day. The Cathedral was delighted to mark the occasion with a special service of readings, music, prayers and an Act of Commemoration broadcast on YouTube. We welcomed serving members of the Armed Forces, cadets and local dignitaries to participate, as well as hearing memories of VE Day itself, including this one from Gordon Baxter:

“At the outbreak of the Second World War I was already an evacuee, 10 years old and at the end nearly 16. Home was Bradford, Yorkshire. Hardly a prime target for bombers although air raid warnings were frequent. Almost six years of unrelenting reminders of relentless conflict, Uniformed servicemen and women everywhere in evidence from all over the world. Tanks, guns and military vehicles were stored in parks and open spaces, warplanes constantly overheard to spot and identify. Queues for ever more tightly rationed food, standard utility clothes only, windows each night to be blacked out. Not a chink of light allowed As Boy Scouts we collected waste paper, made camouflage netting, took the evening pot of tea to the Home Guard on lookout. We welcomed evacuees from the bombing in London or talked to the Prisoners of War working in the fields.

Newspapers, four to six pages only, were crammed with news and maps from the many war fronts. As boys, our geographical knowledge was immense: every town, river, sea, mountain where the war was being fought. We were expert at military, air and naval strategies and tactics. We were all too aware also of the very real dangers. When the Headmaster read out, at the daily school assembly, the names of old boys and teachers killed in action, or missing believed dead, we knew the reality. And when peace finally came RELIEF BEYOND BELIEF.”

You can watch the service here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaEOcevafvk

Thank you also to everyone who participated in the Big Picnic For Hope. We are delighted to have raised £625 for the Roberts Centre. If you would like to support this fantastic local charity, their website has details here: http://www.robertscentre.org.uk/

Christian Aid Week

Christian Aid Week concludes on Saturday 16 May and is aiming to raise money to help those most in need around the world to deal with the devastating effects of Covid-19.

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.

First online Cathedral Zoom Quiz

Thank you to everyone who took part in our first Cathedral Quiz and congratulations to the winning team of Ruth, Jen, Rob, Sarah, Tom, Ally, Graeme and Susannah.

Watch this space for news of another quiz.

Rogation: Pictures and Prayers

Sunday marks the beginning of Rogation-tide. Rogation is the time leading up to Ascension Day when prayers are traditionally offered for the parish and local community, asking God’s blessing on the land and praying for a good harvest. The name rogation comes from the Latin rogare ‘to ask’ since Jesus encourages us to ask God for what we need: ‘the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name’. For the past 4 years we have walked round the parish boundary on Rogation Sunday – Beating the Bounds as it is known.

We would like you to join in a virtual Rogation-tide this year, as we make a virtual map of cathedral’s parish and wider community and congregation. Please take a photo of yourself and your household and send it in, together with a short prayer for your local area or for a particular concern, and your address. Your photo will be added to a map and the prayers will be gathered for everyone to pray. The prayers could be quite short (‘Please, God, bless all who live in my street’ or ‘Dear God, help our local shopkeepers at this time’) or they could include a picture or drawing if you like.

Please email info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk by the 5pm on Tuesday to be included.

Mental Health Awareness Week

18-24 May is Mental Health Awareness Week which this year has the theme of Kindness. There has been an outpouring of kindness in response to the Covid-19 crisis, and research shows that helping others is good for our own mental health and wellbeing, reducing stress and improving emotional wellbeing.

So to mark this Mental Health Awareness Week, you might want to carry out or reflect on an act of kindness, and share your thoughts with others online using the hastags #KindnessMatters and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek.

Here are some acts to inspire you (remembering not to overdo it and that you are doing this to nurture your own wellbeing):

• Call a friend of family member you haven’t spoken to in a while

• Arrange to watch a film at the same time as a friend and chat about it afterwards

• Tell someone you know that you are proud of them

• Make a cup of tea for someone you live with

• Send someone you know a joke to cheer them up

Our website also has some helpful links to resources to support your mental health: https://www.portsmouthcathedral.org.uk/prayer-resources

Resources for Families

Check the BeSpace link on our website for recently added reflective activities for children and families.  For Ascension Day on Thursday, there are some ideas for things you can do to celebrate Jesus’s ascension into heaven, and to brighten other people’s days.  And there is a link to the new Church of England resources, called Faith At Home.

Music

As church buildings begin to ‘awake as from a sleep’ it seemed appropriate to air this video of Bach’s ‘Sleepers Awake’ alongside superb drone footage of our glorious Nave. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDu3mYcBOdw

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

All Chaplains who will be saying prayers at this year’s Annual Meeting of the City Council

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, Peter, Michael, Richard, Stephen, Paul, Marinus, Chris, Colin, Jan, Philippa, Terry, Sally, David, John, Bob, Derek, Joey, Nigel, Trevor, Emrys, Reuben, Andrew, Jonathan, Grant, Melissa, Mary, Laurence and all those in need.

We give thanks for the improvement in health of: Barry, Tim, Roy and Neil.

All those who have died: Derek Bastide, Joan Moult, Terry Carter (priest), John Codling, David Swann, Colin Butcher, Averil Martin, Ella Wootton, 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.