Weekly Notices | 20 April 2025
A Reflection from
Dean Anthony
Three years ago, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a powerful message to the American Grammy Awards. ‘Our musicians wear body armour instead of tuxedos’, he told the assembled pop stars. ‘They sing to the wounded in hospitals, even to those who can’t hear them. But the music will break through.’ He urged musicians to ‘fill the silence [left by bombing] with your music’.
That was in 2022, and appallingly the conflict continues. In February this year we saw something of the impact on the children of Ukraine in the Little Hope Gallery’s exhibition of their art in the Cathedral. It was profoundly moving to see that for all the darkness represented by missiles and tanks, the images were still filled with hopes and dreams and love for family and home. Through the paint, God’s music was breaking through.
As Easter Day approaches, let us affirm and celebrate that the God whom we worship enters the darkness with us, even unto death and hell, but out of this silent desolation a melody of hope and new life is heard.
This Lent and this Holy Week, our worship has been illuminated and enhanced by both paintings and music. Nicholas Mynheer’s powerful images of the passion of Christ (ending on a note of resurrection) are still there in the ambulatory. Our Holy Week preacher The Very Revd Jane Hedges has taken inspiration from Dieterich Buxtedude’s Membra Jesu Nostri, a series of cantatas focussing on different parts of Christ’s crucified body, beautifully sung by our Choir.
Everything we are as a Cathedral Church depends on the resurrection of Christ, in which we see our salvation, and through which the music of God’s peace and hope breaks into our world. Yes, this Easter thanksgiving takes place in a world that is full of hurt, not least in the land of Jesus’s birth. There is a real sense in which our Easter alleluias are qualified by the fact that so many are in desperate need. But we can take heart that in the risen Christ a new world has begun, in which death and destruction are not the last word. We are all called to live in the light of the future God is preparing for us, and which is already with us in the risen Christ.
I am deeply grateful to the many volunteers, staff, members of the ministry team, and our wonderful choir, who have enabled such a spiritually rich keeping of Lent, and such a powerful Holy Week. It has been wonderful to have Jane Hedges back with us nearly a quarter century after her time here as Canon Pastor. But above all I give thanks for the incomparable gift of the resurrected Christ, alive and active in and through our life and work.
Christ is risen. He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
The Very Reverend Dr Anthony Cane
Dean of Portsmouth
Dates for your diary…
Easter Eve Vigil with Baptism and Confirmation - 19 Apr, at 8:00 pm – 9:45 pm
Easter Day Holy Communion - 20 Apr, at 8:00 am – 9:00 am
#PompeySundays and Easter Egg Hunt - 20 Apr, at 9:30 am – 10:30 am
Easter Day Festal Eucharist - 20 Apr, at 11:00 am – 12:15 pm
Easter Day Festal Evensong - 20 Apr, at 5:45 pm – 6:30 pm
Lunchtime Live Performance - Musicians from Southampton University - 24 Apr, at 1:10 pm – 2:00 pm
Come and Sing (rehearsals from 4pm) - Easter Carols Service - 27 Apr, at 5:45 pm – 6:45 pm
Lunch Club - 28 Apr, at 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Lunchtime Live Performance - Michael Whytock - 1 May, at 1:10 pm – 2:00 pm
Evening Organ Concert: Kim Chin - 2 May, at 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Community News
Christian Aid Week: 11 – 18 May 2025
Once again Christian Aid Week approaches, for its 80th anniversary! Last year the Cathedral community raised over £3000 for people suffering great hardships in the developing world, much of it caused by the effects of climate change which they do the least to cause. This year we hope to beat the £3000 target with as many of you as possible getting involved.
Portsmouth Cathedral is hosting a special, regional Christian Aid service at 5:45pm on 11 May. The preacher for Christian Aid service is John Plant, National Church Relationship Lead at Christian Aid. Please come and bring your family and friends!
The usual envelopes will be available for donations, but other possible fund-raising activities are:
A Big Breakfast at the cathedral - can you help?
Holding a tea or coffee party in your home and asking for donations
Doing sponsored activities - slimming, walking, swimming, climbing, abseiling or any brilliant ideas you may have!
If you can get involved please let Sue Ward know here.
This is our opportunity to make a real difference. Join us!
Jeel Scholarship Fund
Dorothy Gray and Clare Slator are currently on a pilgrimage to visit all forty-four of England’s Anglican cathedrals to raise awareness of the Jeel Scholarship Fund (JSF), a new initiative of the McCabe Educational Trust. During their visit to Portsmouth Cathedral, they were warmly welcomed by the Dean, and shared the inspiring story of JSF’s foundation by the late Revd Alison Askew. JSF supports further education for students from Jeel al Amal, a Christian school near Bethany in Palestine, which provides care and education for children from vulnerable backgrounds regardless of religion.
The fund is already transforming lives—supporting students in nursing, IT, digital marketing and political science—with 100% of donations going directly towards tuition fees. Clare, a JSF committee member who has visited Palestine multiple times, has met many of the students supported by the fund. Dorothy and Clare’s journey is not about fundraising, but about spreading the word. Any cathedral publicity—through notices or social media—would be warmly appreciated. More details, and how to donate, can be found on the McCabe Educational Trust website here.
The Word is Near Update
Please note the following adjustments for the regular Word is Near group:
We return on Wednesday 23 April to regular weekly meetings (10:30am – 11:30am in Bishop Kenneth Room.)
Another Placement - in Passiontide
We will have Katherine here with us on placement for the next fortnight - through Passiontide until Easter Eve. Katherine is currently on a discernment year in Portsmouth, based at St Luke's Church. Brought up in London, she studied at Exeter University and has been coming regularly in the week to join us for Morning Prayer and the early Communion. She will be taking part and helping with a variety of activities - and all the special services that take place through Holy Week.
Out and About
Canon Angela will be presiding and preaching at the 10:30am Eucharist at East Meon on Easter Day as part of the Ministry Team's ongoing support to churches in the diocese.
Myanmar Appeal
There is an opportunity to donate to Christian Aid's Myanmar Emergency Appeal at the Cathedral. We are all aware of the desperate need for food, shelter and medical help for millions of displaced people in Myanmar. Emergency Appeal envelopes for cash or cheques and a QR code for online giving are available in the Welcome Area and at the north door. Please fill in the gift aid form if possible, include it with your gift and put the sealed envelope into a collection box.
You can view the Christian Aid Myanmar appeal here.
Thank you!
Shop Easter Closure
The Shop opening hours over the Easter weekend will be as follows:
Holy Saturday - Open 10:00am to 3:00pm
Easter Day - Closed all day
Easter Monday - Closed all day
But you can still shop online here.
Cathedral offices will also be closed on Easter Monday.
Volunteer opportunity - Shop Supervisor
We are looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic Voluntary Shop Supervisor to oversee the daily operations at Portsmouth Cathedral’s shop. This role is vital in ensuring the smooth running of the shop, managing volunteers, and providing excellent customer service.
You can view all of our roles available here.
Chapter
Chapter met on 8 April and approved the Annual Report and Accounts for 2024 which will be published in advance of the APCM. Chapter discussed standing items including committee minutes, finances and Safeguarding and received reports on the work and mission of the Cathedral. As part of it’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding time was spent in an assurance exercise on how the Cathedral meets the National Standards of the Church of England National Safeguarding Standards | The Church of England.
New Electoral Roll, Annual Meetings and Elections
The new Electoral Roll is now being compiled and will be on display in the Cathedral from 23 April until the APCM which is being held 6:30pm Thursday 22 May (following on from 5:45pm Evensong).
The Annual Meetings will include the Election of Churchwardens and one Deanery Synod Representative. An election of a non-executive member (trustee) of Chapter will take place in accordance with the Cathedral’s Statutes in May. Notification of the election and nomination process will be sent to all those on the Electoral Roll, Chapter and its committees on 24 April, with a role description available on the website. Further details will be published in the notices next week.
If you have any questions please speak to the Dean, one of the Canons or churchwardens or contact the Cathedral Offices.
Worship & Visiting
Every day, Portsmouth Cathedral is open for worship, prayer, and visiting. Unless otherwise specified, services do not require booking. Our website contains orders of service, as well as information about visiting the Cathedral.
Services - Easter Day
8:00am - Holy Communion
9:30am - #PompeySundays and Easter Egg Hunt
11:00am - Festal Eucharist and Easter Egg Hunt sung by the Cathedral Choir (Boys) with Trumpets and Drums
5:45pm - Festal Evensong
Prayers & Intercessions
We pray for: all preparing for baptism and confirmation at Easter, including those from our Cathedral congregation and choirs: Sam and Pippa, Daniel, Thomas and Theo, India, Charlotte and Bea.
We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Don, Ann, Peter, John, Elizabeth, Chris, Tom, Marion, Sheila and baby Lottie.
We continue to pray for the long-term sick, including: Spencer, Richard, Suzy, Jill, Alison, Mathai, Philip, Graeme, Alistair and all in need.
We remember those who have died recently, including: Betty Lebbon (Cathedral funeral 2:00pm on Wednesday 23 April), Pat Valler (Cathedral funeral 3:00pm on Wednesday 30 April), Richard Owen, Irene Morgan, Judy Unwin and Rosie RIP.
Upcoming Services & Events
Getting in touch
Please feel free to get in touch if we can help in any way, or if you just want to hear another voice!
Get in touch with us by email to info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk or leave a message via phone on 023 9282 3300.
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