Weekly Notices | 19 January 2025
A reflection from Catherine Edenborough
As I write, we are hearing the details of the ceasefire announcement in Israel and Gaza that was made on Wednesday evening. There are scenes of great celebration on both sides and around the world. There is also a sense of the fragility of the situation. While hoping with all our hearts that this is it and lasting peace will follow, we hold our breath to see how it unfolds.
The question posed by the prayer resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which we mark this week, seems very fitting. Jesus asks Martha “Do you believe this?” in John 11.26. Jesus’ words directly before this are: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die…. Do you believe this?”
We might ask ourselves of the ceasefire ‘Do you believe this?’ I desperately want to believe it. I pray it will bring about an end to the hostilities. I hope it will herald a better future... but for now, until we see it come to fruition, I don’t know for sure. It is interesting to contrast this with the believing Jesus is talking about: believing in the resurrected Christ, which is both a mystery and yet gives us solid ground to stand on. Sometimes we falter and lose our way, we have times of doubt and questioning, but we are always able to come back to the truth, and can be sure of God’s forgiveness, love and presence.
This year the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity focuses on the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, at which the Nicene Creed was agreed, which we say to affirm our faith every Sunday in the 11am Eucharist. It’s a reminder of that solid ground on which we stand in Christ. This Sunday, let’s give thanks for the assurance of Christ’s presence in our lives and in the world, while we fervently pray for a peaceful future for the people of Gaza and Israel.
The Reverend Catherine Edenborough,
Cathedral Curate
Dates for your diary…
Epiphany Carol Service, 19 Jan 2025 5:45 pm – 6:45 pm
Exploring the Bible: Galatians & Ephesians, 20 Jan 2025 6:45 pm – 8:45 pm
Specialist Tour Tuesdays – Stained Glass Tour, 21 Jan 2025 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Lunchtime Live Performance - Angelina Kopyrina (piano), 23 Jan 2025 1:10 pm – 2:00 pm
Burns Night Ceilidh, 25 Jan 2025 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Community News
Annual Muslim Christian Evening - Tuesday 21 January at 7pm
We look forward to welcoming the community from the Wessex Jamaat for this annual event where we share wisdom, friendship and food. All are welcome and you are invited to bring some vegetarian food to share if you are able.
The theme this year is “The Sanctity of Life” and there will be a number of talks and reflections from both communities, an opportunity for round table discussion, and sharing food together. This event reaches its 30th Year in 2025 - do come and be a part of it!
Spotlight on Safeguarding
In August 2023, INEQE Safeguarding Group was appointed by the Archbishops’ Council to carry out the next round of independent external audits of Church of England dioceses and cathedrals. The purpose of these audits is to make sure dioceses, cathedrals and palaces are doing all they can to create environments where everyone feels safe, valued and respected. INEQE will be auditing Portsmouth Cathedral in June of this year.
As part of our ongoing commitment to Safeguarding here at Portsmouth Cathedral, Canon Harriet will be holding three "Spotlight on Safeguarding" sessions for staff and volunteers to attend. These will be interactive and engaging, offering opportunities to reflect on our Safeguarding practices and ethos, and share experience. Please do consider coming to one of these sessions - there will be refreshments offered at each , and a chance to chat informally to one another, as well as the activities facilitated by Canon Harriet
Session 1 - Wednesday 29 January 10:00am - 11:00am Becket Hall
Session 2 - Tuesday 4 February 6:30pm - 7:30pm Becket Hall
Session 3 - Friday 7 February 1:00pm - 2:00pm Becket Hall
Exploring the Bible: Galatians and Ephesians
Our next course in the Exploring the Bible series will focus on Paul’s letters to the Galatians and Ephesians. The course will run for 5 weeks and will involve reading and discussion as we explore together. Please note due to staff illness, the course will be starting a week later on Monday 13 January, we apolagise for any inconviencne.
No prior knowledge is necessary, and all are welcome. If you are interested in joining, pleasecontact Canon Harriet here.
Testing new methods of heating our Cathedral
This week, new heating solutions were added to the Ambulatory, testing the concept of using fans to help spread heat throughout the Nave. The project is 100% grant funded through the Church Commissioners.
Currently our heating system does not heat the Nave space effectively, with most heat being absorbed into the walls. We’ll be using existing data loggers to evaluate the results of these tests and inform our plans as we move forward. Over the past 10 years the Cathedral has cuts its carbon footprint by 45% (weather adjusted) through a series of small changes, with a limited budget.
On Saturday 18 January, the Cathedral will be hosting a Tri-Diocesan Net-Zero Conference, on behalf of Bishop Jonathan. We will share our experience of making significant positive changes in reducing our carbon footprint, and showing how the changes made here can be replicated by parishes and churches across Portsmouth, Chichester and the Guildford dioceses.
Learn more about how we’re reducing ourcarbon footprint here →
Specialist Tour Tuesdays 2025!
After the success of the Specialist Tours last year, we are happy to announce a new series of Specialist Tour Tuesdays. Join us for a range of hour-long tours led by one of our knowledge Guides throughout 2025 to learn more about Portsmouth Cathedral!
Stained Glass Tour- 21 January, at 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Organ Tour- 25 February, at 1:00pm – 2:00pm
More dates to be added soon!
Please note there are limited spaces on the tour, and they must be booked in advance.Book here
Candlemas Come and Sing
Join us for “Candlemas Come and Sing” at Portsmouth Cathedral, where the magnificent architecture and inspiring acoustics set the stage for a memorable musical experience. This event celebrates Candlemas, a time of reflection and light, perfect for coming together in song. Led by our Master of Choristers and Organist, David Price, you’ll enhance your vocal skills and musical expression.
Booking is required click here to be taken to our page to secure your ticket today.
Next chapter for the Revd Catherine Edenborough
Revd Catherine Edenborough, who has been Curate here since 2020, has been appointed to a new post as Associate Priest at Holy Trinity & St Columba, Fareham.
Dean Anthony said: “Catherine has made a really impressive contribution to the ministry and mission of the cathedral, not least in helping to launch and lead ‘Pompey Sundays’ as we emerged from the pandemic. Her creativity and flair has helped to build up this new congregation, and also been seen in other events such as her pioneering ‘spirituality of the tango’ day at the cathedral. Catherine is a person of prayer, wisdom and good sense, with a real pastoral touch, and as her curacy comes to an end, we will miss her very much. When the time comes, she will go with our grateful thanks, and the assurance of our prayers as she moves on to her new post.”
Contributions towards a leaving present can be made through the Cathedral Offices or by BACS (either to be clearly marked ‘Edenborough’) by 21 January please.
We will say farewell to Catherine on Sunday 26 January, which will be her last day at the Cathedral. The date of her licensing in Fareham is to be announced in due course.
Chorister Update
At the end of our 11:00am Christmas Eucharist we witnessed the end of an era! We bade farewell to Head Chorister David Cuthbert – this marked not only the end of David’s remarkable seven years a chorister, but also the end of over twelve years association of the Cuthbert family for older brothers George and James also served as Head Choristers during their tenures as Choristers here.
We thank mum and dad Anjana and David for all their support of their boys and know that they will continue to be part of the choir and cathedral family – albeit now not having to drop and collect their boys to and from the cathedral eight times a week!
Curate with us on placement
We are delighted that we will be joined for a fortnight by the Revd Sandra Haggan, curate at St Faith's Havant. Sandra will be here for a two-week placement from this Sunday until Saturday 1st February, taking part in many aspects of the life of the Cathedral and parish. Sandra is currently a Deacon, in her first year of her curacy, and is due to be ordained Priest in June.
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
Sunday 19 January – Second Sunday of Epiphany
8:00am - Holy Communion
9:30am - #Pompey Sundays with Baptism
11:00am - Choral Eucharist sung by the Cathedral Choir (Girls)
5:45pm - Epiphany Carol Service sung by the Cathedral Choir (Boys)
Prayers & Intercessions
We pray for all Readers in the Diocese (including Kitty and Chris) taking part in the annual Readers' Conference this weekend.
We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: David, Peter, June, Jess, Tom, Spencer, Pauline, Elizabeth, Chris, baby Lottie, baby Dylan and baby Etta.
We continue to pray for the long-term sick, including: David, Jill, Alison, Suzy, Richard, Alistair, Graeme, Rosy, Philip and Mathai and all in need.
We remember those who have died recently, including: Jack, Andy Skora, Geraldine Tucker (Cathedral funeral Tuesday 21 January at 10:30am), Sheila Meaden (burial of ashes Wednesday 22 January at 11:30am), Muriel Allen (Cathedral Memorial service Thursday 30 January at 2:30pm). Derek Haddow 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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