Weekly Notices | 27 April 2025
A Reflection from
Canon Jo
It was a truly holy and blessed Holy Week this year here at Portsmouth Cathedral, and a very special Easter weekend. I hope if you were with us for any of the services that you picked up on the prayerful atmosphere, the beautiful singing, the deep devotion, and the amazing sense of Easter joy.
Jane Hedges led some profound and thoughtful addresses, all of which are now available for you to listen to on the Cathedral website here. The Choir with our senior choristers sang the powerful and plaintive Buxtehude motets that Jane had requested to accompany her reflections.
If you were here, you might have been aware we had remarkable numbers throughout the week. All our services had bigger congregations than last year - with Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil being particularly well attended (with 32 candidates for confirmation including, happily, eight of our own congregation and choristers) – building up to an astonishing Easter Day 11am Eucharist with over 100 more people attending than last year.
So huge thanks to all who helped prepare and participate in any way through the week: to our Churchwardens and sidespeople and welcomers, to the office and admin staff, to the Flower Guild (getting the lilies at their peak on Easter day!) and those who brought plants and flowers from home, to those who cleaned and polished, to those who read and prayed for us, to the volunteers for the extra responsibilities, to the servers and to the Verger team who made it all happen. But above all to our Music department and all in the Cathedral Choir and Consort – for the singing and music that helped us enter the devotional depths of Christ’s death on the Cross and lifted us to the spiritual heights of the Resurrection of Life.
We were sorry to say goodbye to Nicholas Mynheer’s Sarum Cycle sequence of paintings this week, which had shaped our prayers and conversation since the start of Lent. But we hope to be able to display a new series of artworks by him in the future, to do with the experience of migrants and those who risk their lives at sea.
This Sunday we have another celebration of new life with the baptism of Canon Nick’s newest grandchild Frederic (the son of Emma and Will) at 11am. And there is the opportunity for another Easter occasion to enjoy in music and words with the ‘Come and Sing’ Easter Carol Service here on Sunday evening at 5.45.
Through this coming Easter season I hope you will continue to draw encouragement and strength from the good news of Easter, and join in the joy of worship with all God’s creation.
Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing choirs of angels!
Exult all creation around God’s throne.
Jesus Christ our King is risen:
sound the trumpet of salvation!
Dates for your diary…
Come and Sing - Easter Carols - 27 Apr, at 4:00pm
Easter Carol Service - 27 Apr, at 5:45 pm – 6:30 pm
Lunch Club - 28 Apr, at 12:00pm – 2:30pm
The Word is Near - 30 Apr, at 10:30am – 11:30am
#PompeyTOTS - 30 Apr, at 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Lunchtime Live Performance - Michael Whytock - 1 May, at 1:10pm – 2:00pm
Evening Organ Concert: Kim Chin - 2 May, at 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Soul Sessions presents: Boogie Wonderland - 3 May, at 7:30pm – 11:59pm
Future Folk - Spring Cathedral Session - 7 May, 2025 at 7:30pm – 10:30pm
Lunchtime Live Performance - Fumi Otsuki & Natalie Bleicher - 8 May, 2025 at 1:10pm – 2:00pm
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 Evensong at 5:45pm on 11 May. The preacher for this 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!
Credo: Why I Believe - this year's series of sermons by our Cathedral Honorary Canons
We are pleased to have the Honorary Canons of Portsmouth Cathedral preaching again this year on Sunday evenings. The title for the sermon series is: "Credo: Why I believe..." as this is the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea which met after Easter in the year 325 and agreed what was to become known as the Nicene Creed.
Canon Tom Kennar (Vicar of Havant) - Sunday 4 May
Canon Bob White (acting Archdeacon of Portsdown) - Sunday 8 June
Canon Annie McCabe (Vicar of St Luke's) - Sunday 15 June
Canon Richard England - Sunday 20 July
Canon Will Hughes - Sunday 3 August
Canon Susie Collingridge - Sunday 17 August
Canon Andrew Sheard - Sunday 24 August
Canon Andrew Hillier (the Chaplain of The Fleet) - Sunday 31 August
VE Day 80th Anniversary – Sunday 4 May
Portsmouth City Council will be commemorating the 80th Anniversary of VE day with a service being organised on Sunday 4 May, 11:00am at Governors Green, Old Portsmouth. This event is free to attend and will involve a 1-hour Commemorative Service, procession of Veteran Standards, the planting of crosses and wreath-laying ceremony at sea to honour the sacrifices made during WWII. We will have The Royal Marines Association Concert Band and Hampshire Caledonian Pipe Band performing.
An order of service will be provided on the day.
We will be supported by the Garrison Church who will be hosting one of their open days on the 4 May for anyone who would like to attend and visit the Church following the service.
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.
New Electoral Roll, Annual Meetings and Elections
The new Electoral Roll has now been published and a copy will is available in the Cathedral to view until the APCM which is being held at 6:30pm on Thursday 22 May. The Annual Meetings will include the Election of Churchwardens and one Deanery Synod Representative. Only those on the new Electoral Roll will be entitled to vote.
Election of Non-Executive member of Chapter (trustee)
An election of a non-executive member (trustee) of Chapter will take place via electronic means in accordance with the Cathedral’s Statutes between 26 April and 9 May.
To be eligible to stand candidates will need to be on the Electoral Roll, confirmed members of the Church of England and eligible to be a Charity Trustee. Nominations must be received by the Dean’s EA, as Presiding Officer, before 9:00am on Thursday 1 May 2025 ideally by email to election@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk or through the Cathedral Offices. The person nominated and those proposing but be on the Electoral Roll. The Role Description and Nomination Form are available in the Cathedral or though the websitehere. Elections will be held electronically between 8 and 21 May.
All those on the Electoral Roll, Chapter and its committees have been sent notification of the election and nomination process either by email or post. If you have not received this and are on the Electoral Roll please contact the Cathedral Offices.
Friends Upcoming Events
We’re delighted to invite you to a series of upcoming events hosted by the Friends of Portsmouth Cathedral. Do join us for moments of learning, reflection and fellowship.
Coffee Morning – Tuesday 3 June at 11:00am, in the Nave
Enjoy a warm welcome over coffee and cake, and hear from our guest speaker,Mark Button, who will be sharing insights on‘How to avoid being scammed’– a timely and important topic. A lovely opportunity to meet other Friends and enjoy some light refreshments together.
Patronal Feast Day – Sunday 6 July
Join us as we celebrate our Patronal Festival withChoral Evensong at 5.45pm, followed by informal drinks in a local pub – a chance to mark the occasion with worship and good company.
Friends AGM – Sunday 21 September
The Annual General Meeting of the Friends will take place at 4.00pm in Beckett Hall, followed by Choral Evensong at 5.45pm. We hope you’ll be able to attend and share in the continued life of our community.
Evening Talk – Tuesday 14 October at 7:30pm, Beckett Hall
We are honoured to welcome Jeremy Prescott(Lieutenant Colonel retired), who will give a thought-provoking talk titled ‘Remembrance’. Jeremy is widely recognised for his powerful and engaging presentations.
Tickets are £7.50 for members of the Friends and £10.00 for non-members, and include(s) a complimentary glass of wine.
We look forward to seeing you at one or more of these events. You can find out more about the Friends here.
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 this Sunday 27 April –
Second Sunday of Easter
8:00am - Holy Communion
9:30am - #PompeySundays
11:00am - Choral Eucharist with Baptism (sung by the Boy Choristers)
5:45pm - Easter Carol Service (led by Come and Sing Choir with our Girl Choristers
Prayers & Intercessions
We pray for: Frederic, to be baptised this Sunday, and his parents and godparents, and for all who were baptised or confirmed at Easter, including those from our Cathedral congregation and choirs: Sam and Pippa, Daniel, Thomas and Theo, India, Charlotte and Bea.
We give thanks for: Katherine and Neil who were married here on Monday.
We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Ken, Mike, Don, Marion, Peter, Ann, John, Elizabeth, Chris, Tom and baby Lottie.
We continue to pray for the long-term sick, including: Spencer, Richard, Suzy, Alison, Jill, Mathai, Philip, Alistair, Graeme and all in need.
We remember those who have died recently, including: Pat Valler (Cathedral funeral 3:00pm on Wednesday 30 April), Betty Lebbon, Richard Owen and His Holiness Pope Francis 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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