A reflection from Portsmouth Cathedral

Lead kindly light, amid the encircling gloom / Lead thou me on

Lines from Henry Newman, written while he was at sea, and was aching to return home from Italy to England, but had ended up becalmed.

In the past week, we have been inspired by the luminous feast of Candlemas, as the Christmas Season has drawn to a close, but now, we turn towards Lent, and especially in the midst of our current situation, it can feel as if the gloom is starting to encircle us.

Our nation is also mourning the loss of a man who helped to pierce the gloom of Covid by his own determination to be positive and to make a difference to people’s lives, however he could: Captain Sir Tom Moore. His rise to the status of national icon during the first lockdown and beyond was extraordinary to witness, but not hard to understand: having fought during the Second World War, he was now, in his frailty and with great grace and good nature, fighting a different sort of darkness. And he fought it, to great effect, by putting one foot in front of the other.

Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see / The distant scene, says Newman - one step enough for me.

This is the spirit which Sir Tom exemplified. It is the spirit which keeps us going through these times, and it is the gift we are given in these days, now that our eyes have been opened once again to the Light of the world, who draws into his radiance all darkness. Christ gives us enough breadth of vision to know him as our Saviour, and enough focus simply to trust him for our next step, knowing that the next step is enough.

Because, as we hear again in Sunday’s gospel reading, the encircling gloom will never overcome the kindly light.

Canon Kathryn Percival
Canon Chancellor and Vice Dean

Covid-19 Information & Visiting the Cathedral

In line with recent government guidance, we welcome all who come for private prayer and communal worship. We are however unable to allow sightseeing or visits to exhibitions, and our shop is also closed for now.

For further information and our latest updates regarding Coronavirus, visit our Covid-19 information page and find the latest information on visiting the Cathedral here.

Services and Worship

We continue to hold communal worship at the Cathedral. Our regular service of midday Holy Communion and our Sunday Services continue. All Evensong services are now online only, including those on Sundays.

More information can be found on our worship pages, where you can also download our most recent service list.

Online Worship

Livestreamed daily online worship continues via our live page and via Facebook. Find out more about our online services or download service lists and orders of service from our prayer resources page.

Sunday Refreshments via Zoom – 7 February, 6:30 pm.

Join us for our weekly Sunday Refreshments hosted on Zoom. It is a great opportunity to catch up with other members of the congregation and members of our ministry team.

For security purposes, the Zoom link will be sent out in our email notices. Please subscribe here to get the latest news, services and events from the cathedral.

Prayers and Intercessions

We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Bob, Derek, Trevor, Izzy, Clare, Sarah, Jenny, Monty, Michael, Laurence, Rita, Tara, Dave, Mercedes, Peter, Amanda, Joan, Reuben, Kathy, Alison, all those in need and those affected by COVID-19.

We pray for those who have died recently: Sheila Deans, Maurice Crane, Bill Westwood, Nigel Pickering, Enid Gull, Colin, Nigel Todd and Dorothy Bellamy (priest), Peter Johnson and Paul Nicol RIP.

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 – 11 February, 7:00 pm

• How the Light Gets In – 13 February, 2:00 pm

• Confirmation classes – from 14 February

• Lent, Holy Week & Easter – from 16 February

  • Shrove Tuesday Pancake Party – 16 February

  • Living His Story: Lent Group – from 18 February

  • Art Wednesdays – from 24 February

  • Lunchtime Live: Lent Term – Weekly on Thursdays, 1:10 pm

Community News

• Community Arts Project for Lent

• Share our survey with your friends

Upcoming Services and Events 

Bible Discussion Group – 11 February, 7:00 pm

Join us online for our weekly Bible Discussion Group. We will be looking at John Ch. 7

For security purposes, the Zoom link will be sent out in our email notices. Please subscribe here to get the latest news, services and events from the cathedral.

How the Light Gets In – 13 February, 2:00 pm

Canon Angela Tilby leads a short afternoon retreat on Zoom for the Oxford Centre for Spiritual Growth. This is focused on words Leonard Cohen’s ‘Anthem’.

It will include scenes and images from and around Portsmouth and particularly the Soup of Souls installation by Peter Codling which was in the Cathedral in 2019.

Participation is free, but donations to OCSG are always welcome. When booking, you will be asked 'How did you hear about this', indicate your connection with Portsmouth Cathedral and the organisers will not require the donation otherwise indicated.

Find out more and book to participate here

Confirmation Classes – from 14 February

In preparation for confirmation services on Easter Eve (3 April), we will be running Zoom confirmation classes on Sundays for adults (2:00 pm) and young people (3:00 pm), starting on 14 February and running for six weeks. Explorers and enquirers welcome.

If you, or someone you know, is interested in joining a class, please find out more and sign-up here.

Lent, Holy Week & Easter – from 16 February

Explore God’s story of loving and creative engagement with the world in our season of inspiring services, courses and events during Lent as we prepare to celebrate Easter.

Visit our website to find more information, services and events as they are announced in the coming weeks.

Save the Date! Shrove Tuesday Pancake Party – 16 February, 7:30 pm

Mark your calendar to join us for a pancake party hosted by the Cathedral Curate and Chief Operating Officer to celebrate Shrove Tuesday on 16 February at 7.30pm on Zoom. Bring out your inner Mary Berry or Nigella Lawson!
Find out more

Living His Story: Lent Group – from 18 February – 25 March, 7:00 pm

During these weeks, our Thursday Bible Discussion Group will turn into a Lent Group – all are most welcome to join. We will be using the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 2021: Living His Story, by Hannah Steele.
Find out more

Art Wednesdays – from 24 February-24 March, 7:30 pm

Canon Kathryn takes us on a cultural journey via Zoom, each week joined by special guests helping us understand and reflect upon artistic works based upon the Lenten theme.
Find out more

Lunchtime Live: Lent Term 2021 – Weekly on Thursdays, 1:10 pm

Delight in our weekly recitals live from the Cathedral, including our series of Chorales for Lent. Featuring members of the Cathedral Music Department, and some special guest artists.
Find out more and watch online

Community News

Community Arts Project for Lent

Calling all creatives! We are looking for people who would like to create a picture, painting, poem or piece of art for our Stations of the Cross service on 6 March, part of Lent at Portsmouth Cathedral.

We’ll have a number of stations, giving you the opportunity to create a focal point for reflection as part of the service. This will be shown online via livestream and on our website. If you are interested, please contact Revd Catherine Edenborough to find out more and take part. Email catherine.edenborough@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

Share our survey with your friends…

Portsmouth Cathedral has received funding to undertake a project to better understand how the cathedral is perceived by the community, including our current and potential visitors. This survey will help us to ensure we meet their needs now and in the run-up to us celebrating our centenary in 2027.

We are keen to hear from as many people as possible, so please do share widely with family and friends, even those who have not visited us before. If you are part of any local Facebook groups, please do share the link to the survey there also.

You can complete the short survey online here.

Recommend our notices to a friend…

Do you know someone who may benefit from receiving our notices? Why not recommend them our newsletter by sending them to portsmouthcathedral.org.uk/newsletter where they can sign up online.

If you know someone without internet access, we also provide a printed mailing. Please contact our pastoral team using the contact details below to sign up.

Foodbank Collection Point

The Cathedral is home to a foodbank collection point for the Roberts Centre. Donations of food and toiletries are particularly needed at the moment and greatly appreciated by those using the service.

See what items most in need are on 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!

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

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

Canon Kathryn Percival: 023 9289 2967 or Kathryn.Percival@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.