Weekly Notices | 8 December 2024
A reflection from Canon Harriet
Amidst the bustle of some very busy weeks here at the Cathedral it was good to step aside for our Advent course on Monday, and to spend some time thinking about what it means to watch and wait for the coming of Christ. This first week, we read about some of the people in the scriptures who watched for, and saw, Christ. And discovered that much of their seeing of Christ, was tied up not just with vision, but with all the senses. One very obvious example is that of Mary Magdalene who sees the resurrected Christ but doesn’t recognise him until she hears him call her name. Her instinct then, is to reach out and touch him. Christ calls us to “see” him with all of our senses.
We then spent some time looking at a series of paintings depicting scenes associated with Advent and Christmas – the Annunciation, the Nativity itself, and the Epiphany. We looked for a while in silence, taking into account the details of each painting: wondering what it would be like to be there in the scene, what we would see, what we might hear, what we would smell, and even what it might feel like. Needless to say that when we shared some of our thoughts together, we all had very different answers and it was fascinating to compare the very different things we had “seen” and felt.
Immersed in the routines of our daily lives, we can become very blinkered, not noticing the different perspectives and visions of others, even of those we know well. Perhaps the season of Advent is an ideal time to be open to seeing things differently, or from another’s point of view; open to having our own perspective broadened, or challenged, so that we might glimpse something new and different and unexpected of the coming Christ.
Spend some time with this particular image – not just a glance – but a few minutes, really exploring what’s there. What do you see?
With every blessing
Dates for your diary…
Lunch Club – 9 Dec at, 12:00pm – 2:30pm
Advent Course – 9 Dec at, 6:45pm – 8:45pm
Candlelit Compline during Advent – 9 Dec at, 8:15pm – 9:15pm
The Word is Near – 11 Dec at, 10:30am – 11:30am
Brass Rubbing Trails – Runs from 13 Dec – 6 Jan at, 10:00am 3:00pm
The Snowman Live with the Solent Symphony Orchestra – 14 Dec at, 3:00pm, 5:00pm and 7:00pm
Coffee and Carols - Anna Chaplaincy – 15 Dec at, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Art in Advent - Schools Exhibition – 16 Dec – 19 Dec at, 9:00am – 5:00pm
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.
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. On Saturday, 14 December join us for three showings of Raymond Briggs’ ‘The Snowman’with accompaniment from the Solent Symphony Orchestra and 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.
Christmas Fair Tomorrow!
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 stay with 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.
Carols on the Green Update
Due to the weather, Carols on the Green may take place inside the Nave. Please join us on Saturday, 7th December, at 5:45pm for a festive evening of music and celebration. All are welcome!
‘Comfort and Joy’ sharing some love at Christmas
Over 22 years ago, at a Portsmouth Housing Association meeting, two people chatted at a coffee break. That short conversation led to the development of the Churches Homeless Action Voucher Scheme. The conversation was around what was a common factor for those who were homeless – rough sleeping, sofa surfing, in refuges, asylum seekers etc. The two factors that were identified lie at the heart of the scheme. The first is that the gift of choice is one we take for granted, but which those who are on the margins do not often have. The gifts generously given by others, may not be what the individual would choose for themselves. The second was that those who are in the margins and homeless are not just a statistic, or a nuisance, or a ‘them’; but they are human beings like us and in each of them Christians believe we see the image of God.
So, the scheme has two elements –the gathering of vouchers or gift cards for £5 or £10so that those who receive them can chose what they have
the sharing of a Christmas card and a personal message, recognising our common humanity.
These two elements have then been shared with local charities and groups who support those who are homeless (this year’s list is below).
Each year we hear of how much this simple scheme means to those who receive the gift cards and greeting and how precious they are.
In a time of ongoing worries and concerns about finance, food, fuel and wellbeing we hope to be able to share this precious gift and greeting with as many as we can.
If you would like to make a donation, please send your Christmas Card (in an unsealed envelope) and gift cards to:
The Deanery office
St Faith’s Church
Crasswell Street
Portsmouth PO1 1HT
Big Give Update
Exciting news from Portsmouth Cathedral – thanks to your incredible generosity, we’ve smashed our fundraising target at last night’s special event, Carols at the Mary Rose!
This week, Portsmouth Cathedral has been part of The Big Give, a match-funding campaign designed to double the impact of donations. Running from 3rd to 10th December, our goal was to raise £3,000, which would be matched pound-for-pound to achieve a total of £6,000. Thanks to last night’s fantastic efforts, we’ve not only reached our target but exceeded expectations – a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed so far!
All funds raised are supporting our Sing Joyfully campaign, which enables the Cathedral’s vital music programmes, including choirs, outreach initiatives, scholarships, and training. This is our first time taking part in The Big Give, and the success has been heartening, showing just how much our community values and supports the work we do.
But we’re not stopping here. Fundraising continues this weekend at the Christmas Fair and Carols on the Green. Every donation made through The Big Give campaign page by 10th December will still be matched, making this the perfect time to maximise your impact.
How You Can Help:
Portsmouth Cathedral invites all supporters to keep the momentum going by donating during the campaign week. Your contributions will help us go even further in growing our Sing Joyfully initiative and supporting music at the heart of our community. Remember, every pound donated online will be doubled!
Thank you for your ongoing generosity – together, we are making a real difference.
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 the BBC 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.
Christmas Flowers Donation
Each year our talented volunteer Flower Guild, bring the scents and sights of Christmas to the Cathedral, filling the space with festive greenery and flowers. It’s thanks to your support that each year we’re able to adorn the Cathedral with Poinsettias and other festive flora.
If you would like to donate towards flowers for our Christmas displays, please use this envelope to make your contribution.
Cathedral Sing
St Cecilia Evensong
We welcomed nearly 80 children to join with our Cathedral Choir to sing a special Evensong for St Cecilia Day last month. All the children enthusiastically joined in with the Psalm, Magnificat, anthem and final rousing rendition of Vaughan Williams The Old 100th!
Gabrieli ROAR—A Georgian Christmas Tour
We were honoured to be the opening cathedral for this year’s Gabrieli ROAR Tour across eleven cathedrals in England. We welcomed nearly 200 young people to come and sing alongside the Cathedral Choir, The Gabrieli Consort and Players.
The music was a selection of cheery and boisterous carols as would have been sung in parish churches across the nation in the 18th Century—a particular favourite was While Shepherds watch to Ilkley Moor rather than the more common and dull Victorian tune now used.
Friends of Portsmouth Cathedral
We were delighted to welcome Andrew Gant as our guest speaker at the well-attended Coffee Morning held on Thursday. Andrew gave an fascinating talk his about book, 'Deck the Hall: The Stories of our Favourite Christmas Carols', which continues to be available at the Cathedral Shop. The morning was the final event in this year's Friends social programme. The next event is an evening talk on Thursday 13 March by Nigel Atkinson, His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire about the role of the Lieutenancy and his experiences.
Learn more about the Friends and membership here.
Advent Course: Watching and Waiting for Christ
Our Advent course will run over three weeks this year - Mondays, 9, 16 December at 6:45pm - 8:00pm 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.
Brass Rubbing Trail
Explore the Cathedral this Christmas with our Brass Rubbing Trail!
Portsmouth Cathedral is hosting a brass rubbing trail this Christmas. We invite all to join us this festive season to find out more about the Cathedral. For a small fee of £2 per pack, available at the Cathedral Shop from 10:00am to 3:30pm Tuesdays - Sundays, visitors can enjoy this creative experience.
Please note from the 25 December - 6 January the packs will be available to purchase in the Welcome Area of the Cathedral, via money donation or donation unit, as the shop will be closed. The trail will run from the 13 December 2024 - 6 January 2025.
Art in Advent
An Advent themed art exhibition by children from our local schools (St Jude's CE Primary School, St George's CE Beneficial School, Portsmouth High School and The Harbour School).
Come and enjoy this art exhibition which will use the whole cathedral space and encourage us to prepare for the birth of Christ at Christmas.
Free to visit and all are welcome!
Exhibition open Monday 16 December–Thursday 19 December 9am–5pm. Mulled wine and mince pies every day 3:30–5pm.
Candlelit Eucharist for Art in Advent - Thursday 19 December at 4pm - all welcome.
Thank You
Many thanks for my warm send off at the end of November - for the many gifts and cards and for this lovely print of Old Portsmouth to remember my five years here.
Whilst I have ceased my operational responsibilities, I will be working in the background on handover and a couple of national church items over the next few weeks. I will also be back in the Cathedral on the 18th of January 2025 to speak at the Tri-Diocesan Eco Conference.
Again, many thanks for the last five years - it will be amazing to see what happens next.
Richard
Interim Chief Operating Officer
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 Cathedral, 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 -
Second Sunday of Advent
8:00am - Holy Communion
9:30am - #PompeySundays Christingle
11:00am - Choral Eucharist with Christingle sung by the Cathedral Choir (Boys)
5:45pm - Choral Evensong sung by the Cathedral Choir (Girls)
Prayers & Intercessions
We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Geraldine, June, Jess, Muriel, Tom, Spencer, Pauline, Elizabeth, Chris and all in need.
We continue to pray for the long-term sick, including: Margaret, David, Jill, Alison, Suzy, Richard, Alistair, Rosy, Philip, Mathai, Graeme and baby Lottie.
We remember those who have died recently, including: Sheila Meaden, Susan Morlock, Peter Hamer, Dave King, Kenneth Reilly (Cathedral funeral 10 December 10.00am). 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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