Weekly Notices | 1 December 2024
A reflection from Kitty Price
Happy New Church Year!
The new liturgical year starts this Sunday, Advent Sunday. New years can bring joy but also a tinge of regret as we leave some things behind when we move forward.
This weekend we bid a sad farewell to the Rustells (though the children will be singing in some of our carol services), thanking each of them for their contribution to the life of this place, and wish them every happiness in their ministry in Dorking. St Martin’s is a fortunate congregation indeed.
In my last reflections I shared that I was off to Aarhus, Denmark, on a solo adventure. I am pleased to report that it went really well, and I enjoyed the family reunion in Aarhus Cathedral. I need to challenge myself in other ways in the new Church year. How about you?
As I write this, Canon Nick is in Aarhus – it is clearly the place to be this month! He is leading a group from the diocese on a course run by the university called Kaospilots. Here you are encouraged to be creative and innovative in your leadership and contexts, which helps you to look at things from a different perspective. A bit like a new year.
Words from Jacob after his dream in Bethel, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” Portsmouth Cathedral as a building and community is an awesome place. There is so much happening during Advent and Christmas. Please take a leaflet or look at the website for all the things taking place.
“Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!” Praise the Lord!
Kitty Price
Cathedral Reader
PS don’t forget to buy BBC Music Magazine’s December edition, which includes a CD recorded by our choir!
Dates for your diary…
‘Darkness to Light’ an Advent Carol Service – 1 December, at 5:45pm – 6:45pm
Advent Course – 2 December, at 6:45pm – 8:45pm
Candlelit Compline during Advent – 2 December, at 8:15pm – 9:15pm
The Word is Near – 4 December, at 10:30am – 11:30am
Deck the Hall! Talk with Andrew Gant - Friends Coffee Morning – 5 December, at 11:00am – 1:00pm
Community News
Celebrate Advent and Christmas with us at Portsmouth Cathedral
As the festive season approaches, we warmly invite you to join us at Portsmouth Cathedral for a time of reflection, celebration, and joy. Whether you’re seeking moments of stillness, the beauty of traditional carols, or opportunities to gather with loved ones, there’s something for everyone here this Advent and Christmas.
We begin Advent on Sunday, 1 December, with the moving Darkness to Light service. This beautiful carol service takes us on a journey from stillness and shadow into light, symbolising hope and renewal at the heart of the season. Throughout Advent, our Monday evening Compline services offer a peaceful, candlelit space for reflection—ideal for finding calm amidst the busyness.
For those looking to pause and reflect more deeply, our Advent Course provides a chance to explore poetry and seasonal themes in a relaxed, thoughtful setting. Meanwhile, on Thursday, 5 December, we’re hosting Deck the Hall!—a special talk with Andrew Gant, where you can uncover the fascinating history and stories behind well-loved Christmas carols.
On Saturday, 14 December join us for three showings of Raymond Briggs’ ‘The Snowman’ with accompaniment from the Solent Symphony Orchestra and The Portsmouth Cathedral Choristers. As Christmas approaches, the Cathedral will be filled with the music and wonder of the season. Our much-loved Christmas Carol Services, running from 21 to 24 December, bring the story of Christmas to life through traditional readings and carols by candlelight—a highlight of the festive season. For families, Christmas Eve is not to be missed. Our Crib Services bring the Nativity story to life with music, storytelling, and plenty of interaction—perfect for children and the young at heart. And for something a little different, join us on Friday, 20 December for a festive sing-along film evening featuring Frozen and The Muppets’ Christmas Carol.
Whatever your plans this Advent and Christmas, we hope you’ll find a warm welcome here at Portsmouth Cathedral.
Visit our website for the full schedule of services and events or pick up a What’s On brochure from the Cathedral or outlets around the city.
Cathedral support for Portsmouth Rough Sleepers
This Sunday, Portsmouth Cathedral marks Safeguarding Sunday, joining with churches across the country. It is an opportunity to listen, talk and think together about how we, as the church, create places and cultures that protect people from the damaging effects of harm and abuse. It is also an opportunity to give thanks for those who work for the good of all of us, and to commit to playing our part as members of the body of Christ in this place by helping to protect and speak up for those who are vulnerable.
We are delighted that our Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor, Andy Hawkins, who has particular responsibility for the cathedral, will be with us at our morning worship on Sunday.
You can find out more here.
Double your Donations - New match-funding campaign launches soon.
Portsmouth Cathedral is thrilled to announce its participation in The Big Give this December, an exciting match-funding campaign that promises to double the impact of donations. Running from 3rd to 10th December, the Cathedral aims to raise £3,000 across the week, which will be matched pound-for-pound to achieve a total of £6,000.
All funds raised will support the Cathedral’s Sing Joyfully campaign, which underpins our vital music programmes, including choirs, outreach initiatives, scholarships, and training. This is the first time Portsmouth Cathedral has joined The Big Give, a well-established campaign that has helped charities across the country maximise their fundraising potential.
“Music is at the heart of life at Portsmouth Cathedral,” says CP Robinson, Head of Development and Fundraising. “Through The Big Give, we have a wonderful opportunity to secure vital funding for this programme, which brings joy and inspiration to so many.”
A highlight of the fundraising week will be a special Carols event at the Mary Rose Museum for our donors, alongside promotion at the Cathedral’s Christmas Fair and Carols on the Green. Donations must be made online through the Cathedral’s dedicated campaign page, any other donations, unfortunately, will not count towards our target.
How You Can Help:
Portsmouth Cathedral invites all supporters to make a difference by donating during the campaign week. Every pound counts and will be doubled through the generosity of match funders.Visit the campaign page here.
With the potential to expand this effort in future years, the Cathedral sees this campaign as the beginning of a new chapter in its fundraising journey. Let’s make this campaign a resounding success and help Portsmouth Cathedral continue to inspire through music for generations.
BBC Music Magazine
We’re delighted to be the featured choir for BBC Music MagazineChristmas edition - in the shops and online from this weekend.
Our boy and girl choristers, lay clerks and choral scholars met for three intense recording sessions at the end of September to record a selection of eighteen advent and Christmas carols with Signum Records. The recording engineers worked hard to compete editing and mastering over the following few weeks along with Producer George Richford and the CD hits the shelves of WH Smith this weekend. It’s also available via theBBC Music MagazineApp.
George writes here about the whole experience →
Themagazinealso features a short interview with David Price and the CD a solo track from Kim, our brilliant Organ Scholar this year alongside the choir and trumpets and drums from the Royal Marines Band, HMS Collingwood.
Copies of the CD will be available for purchase at the Christmas Fayre or from David.
Advent Course: Watching and Waiting for Christ
Our Advent course will run over three weeks this year - Mondays 2, 9, 16 December at 6.45 - 8pm in the Cathedral building itself. Using different parts of the building, along with poetry, art, and prayer, we will explore the themes of watching and waiting. Each week, we will also sample a different way of praying using silence, icons, and imagery.
Candlelit Compline follows the Advent course, in St Thomas's Chapel at 8:15pm, for those who would like to stay on.
All are welcome. Please contact Canon Harriet if you would like to come - each session will be standalone so do come to as many as you wish.
Friends Update
A reminder that the next event in our social programme is the Coffee Morning on Thursday 5th December at 11:00am - 12:30pm in the Nave. The Christmas tree will be up and there will be a festive atmosphere. The morning includes a talk by author and composer Andrew Gant on his book ‘Deck the Hall: The Stories of Our Favourite Christmas Carols’. The book reveals the fascinating musical and social history behind the carols.
The Cathedral Shop will be open with copies of ‘Deck the Hall’ available to buy alongside Friends Christmas Cards and the unique range of seasonal gifts.
There will be music, beverages and mince pies so I encourage you to come along, bring a friend, a non-member if you wish, and enjoy the morning.
Happy Hamper! Only 8 more sleeps!
Whatever makes you happy we have something in a hamper for you at the Christmas Fair as well as some fabulous individual prizes.
In this year’s Cathedral Christmas Fair Raffle, you could win:
1st Prize: £100 worth of John Lewis Vouchers
A Christmas hamper including Bransbury Park voucher, Fish Portsmouth voucher, plush blanket, mulled wine, chocolates & more
Book Lovers hamper containing six fantastic books - both fiction and nonfiction, slippers, hot chocolate spoon treat, hat & scarf – everything you need for a snuggle this winter
A Pamper hamper including Ruth Waldran voucher, Beauty Retreat voucher, Trendy Nails voucher, lotions, potions, make up and more
A Family Night in hamper including family game, hot chocolate, snacks, nibbles, drinks and lots more family fun
A Craft Voucher, whether you love painting, modelling, sticking, colouring or you are a general craft enthusiast then this is the hamper for you
Other prizes include: Tony Wood voucher, Jo Malone Candle, Barbara Tipple Jewellery, A beauty box, Brasserie Blanc voucher, Valentte reed diffuser, Camber Wine pack and A-Bar gift voucher.
Don’t forget to staywith us on the day for the draw, only the John Lewis vouchers are allocated to the first drawn ticket, other winning ticket holders can choose their prize! If you are not at the draw one will be chosen by our volunteers.
Please return any sold raffle ticket stubs & money, or unsold tickets!
Portsmouth Cathedral Christmas Fair 11am Saturday 7 December followed by Carols on the Green at 5.45pm. All proceeds from the Christmas Fair support the work and mission of Portsmouth Cathedral. Free to enter, donations gratefully received.
Contact Rachael here.
Help Ann make this Christmas even sweeter
Ann Wilson is aiming to outdo the Chocolate Tombola team's brilliant work last year with even more chocolate, but she needs your help with donations please! Ann says...
Well, my Chocolate stash for the Chocolate Tombola stall is growing. I am having to store it in a sealed suitcase to stop the mouse eating it. Last year a mouse got into my hoard in the garage!!!!!! But this is only a third of what I need for the Christmas fair if we are to make £400 to compete with 2023. Thank you to so many who have already contributed. I hope more will be donated. Any size is welcome. This year the children and adult prizes will be combined. However, every child who does not have a winning number will have a celebration chocolate.
Thank you and please pass donations to Ann, Rachael or into the office.
Interim Chief Operating Officer
Last week we said a grateful thank you and farewell to Richard Abraham as his tenure as Cathedral COO drew to a close. We will be recruiting a new COO early in the new year, which means that it might well not be until next summer that a new person can start. Given this, I am very pleased to say that Isabel Merrifield has agreed to take on the role of Interim COO on a part-time basis. Isabel comes with impressive experience and expertise, having been COO at Coventry Cathedral, and subsequently (having set up her own consultancy) Interim COO at Southwark Cathedal, and then Lincoln Cathedral.
Isabel is currently coming to the end of her work for Lincoln, and will be visiting Portsmouth in December to meet key people and learn more about us. She will do some work for us remotely in January, and then ‘in person’ from February until a permanent COO is able to start. As always, this will be a busy period in the life of the cathedral and I’m delighted to have someone of Isabel’s calibre working with us.
Anthony Cane,
Dean of Portsmouth
Congratulations to CP
Portsmouth Cathedral's Head of Development & Fundraising recognised by local awards.
Congratulations to our Head of Development & Fundraising who was recognised with an award for Community & Inclusion last week, on International Men's Day. In presenting the award, the leader of Portsmouth City Council, Steve Pitt credited CP's work as Chair of the Portsmouth Pride Trust and his partnership work bringing together stakeholders across the city in civil, corporate and creative networks.
In a ceremony organised by The Parenting Network, over 80 nominees were recognised with 6 awards being presented for the Dadzclub Parenting Award, Mental Health & Wellbeing, Community and Inclusion, Unsung Hero, Inspiring Young Male, and Overcoming Adversity.
Richard Abraham, Chief Operating Officer said "We're extremely proud to have CP as part of the team here at Portsmouth Cathedral and want to congratulate him on winning this award. The work he undertakes in the community to make sure that Portsmouth is an inclusive and welcoming city reflects our vision and mission here at the Cathedral, and we hope that through his work leading our development and fundraising, we can continue doing more."
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 - First Sunday of Advent
8:00am - Holy Communion
9:30am - #Pompey Sundays Eucharist with Admission to Communion
11:00am - Choral Eucharist sung by the Cathedral Consort
5:45pm - Advent Carol Service ’From Darkness to Light’ sung by the Cathedral Choir
8:00pm - Taizé Service
Prayers & Intercessions
We pray for: a lasting ceasefire in the Middle East
We pray for: those who will receive Communion for the first time on Advent Sunday
We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Geraldine, June, Muriel, Tom, Spencer, Pauline, Elizabeth, Chris, Gemma and all in need.
We continue to pray for the long-term sick, including: Margaret, David, Jill, Alison, Suzy, Alistair, Richard, Rosy, Mathai, Philip, Paul, Graeme and baby Joy.
We remember those who have died recently, including: Dave King, Meg Hopkinson, Sue Marklew, Kenneth Reilly (Cathedral funeral 3rd December 10.30am) 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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