Portsmouth Cathedral

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Weekly Notices | 20 November 2022

A reflection from Revd Catherine

This week I have returned from a month-long placement at St James’ Milton. As part of training as a curate, you have to experience a different church context and I opted to join the worshipping community up the road. I received a very warm welcome, partly shown in the church’s practice of serving up copious quantities of home-made cakes at virtually every meeting or service I attended (the healthy-eating plan started on Monday!).

One of the main things that struck me was the sense of being part of one body of Christ with these people. I was coming in as an outsider and yet there was an immediate connection with them. I got to know some of the congregation a little and heard their sometimes-harrowing stories of loss or challenge. And as we all shared in holy communion during the Eucharist, I felt an intimate bond with them, despite having been there just a short time.

It was a great reminder that we are all one in the body of Christ. The bonds of fellowship are given by the spirit of God and are not something we have to manufacture or strive after. This is all part of God’s gift to us, and how special that is! As we come to the celebration of Christ the King this Sunday, let’s give thanks for this amazing body of Christ of which we are part, both here at the Cathedral and beyond, and pray for all who visit us for worship, that they might feel that same connectedness with the one body.

The Reverend Catherine Edenborough,
Cathedral Curate


Dates for your diary…


Community News

Celebrate Advent & Christmas at Portsmouth Cathedral

Following a series of difficult Christmases, Portsmouth Cathedral invites you to ‘follow the star’ back to traditional festive services at this extraordinary time of the year.

Discover the good news that we celebrate at Christmas, with our choirs once again singing joyful music throughout the festive season. All are welcome to join us for Christmas Carols, Midnight Mass and Christmas Day services. We’re also pleased to be live-streaming and providing BSL at selected services.

Enjoy events including our annual Cathedral Christmas Fair, the popular Carols on the Green and also the return of the Christmas Gift Market with Love Southsea.

As well as all our Christmas services and events, the Cathedral is open daily for worship and visiting. You’ll also find a wide range of gifts in the Cathedral Shop, including a bespoke range of Christmas decorations and cards. Every purchase made in our shop this Christmas helps ensure the future of our Cathedral for generations to come.

Festive highlights…

  • 25, 26 Nov – Love Southsea Christmas Gift Market

  • 27 Nov - Advent Carol Service

  • 29 Nov - In Dulci Jubilo

  • 10 Dec - Christmas Fair

  • 10 Dec - Carols on the Green

  • 17 Dec - Rowans Concert

  • 18 Dec - Christingle Service

  • 21, 22, 23, 24 Dec - Christmas Carol Services

  • 24 Dec - Crib Services

  • 24 Dec - Midnight Mass

  • 25 Dec - Christmas Day Services

  • 6 Jan - Epiphany Eucharist

  • 6 Jan - Nativitas

  • 15 Jan - Epiphany Carol Service

  • 29 Jan - Candlemas Carol Service

  • 2 Feb - Candlemas Eucharist


Learn more and see all events →

Advent Course: Exploring Advent

Join us for four sessions exploring the theme of watching and waiting for Christ. A time to pause amid the busyness of Christmas preparations. Each evening will be based around a guided meditation with opportunity for reflection, discussion and prayer.

Wed 30 November, Tue 6, Tue 13, Tue 20 December from 7–8pm

Read more and book a space →

A warm welcome to a warm space

From Monday 28 November, Portsmouth Cathedral will be welcoming all to a ‘Warm Space’ in Becket Hall. Open Mondays (until March 2023, with a review in December) from 10:00am to 3:30pm.

We hope to help people through the cold winter months – offering a warm welcoming space for anyone who wishes to come to spend time with other members of the community and meet new people, especially with the rising cost of energy and household bills.

Read more →

Friends of Portsmouth Cathedral

Everyone is welcome at the next Coffee Morning hosted by the Friends, on Tuesday 13 December 11:00am-12:30pm in Becket Hall, £5 per person.

We also look forward to welcoming members of the Friends to Choral Evensong on Tuesday 22 November at 5.45pm. Friends are invited to stay after the service for a tour of the Nave and West End followed by a gathering in a local hostelry.

If you would like to know more about the benefits of joining the Friends please come along or contactfriends@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

Chief Operating Officer elected to national executive

At its Annual Meeting held on 4th November, our Chief Operating Officer, Richard Abraham was elected to serve on the nine member CAFA executive. CAFA (the Cathedral Administration and Finance Association) was formed in the 1980s and is there to enable the mission and ministry of Cathedrals through effective and efficient business management. CAFA provides support across the cathedral network as well as advocating the case for cathedrals to the central Church and to Government.

Read more →

Making, Knitting & Sewing - free materials available!

Please help yourself to some free resources of wool and patches of material from the Welcome Area in the Cathedral. These materials are available to anyone who may be able to make use of them, perhaps to knit a shawl or blanket as a donation to use during the services, or a crocheted toy for the Christmas fair?

How you can get involved with our Christmas Fair

This year our annual Christmas Fair takes place on 10 December, and is supported by our wonderful team of volunteers. If you would like to get involved, the easiest way is to donate an item for the raffle or for one of the stalls.

See how you can get involved, and what donations we’re looking for →

New Oven for Becket Hall Kitchen

After many delays, the new oven was installed in the Becket Hall kitchen on Friday, 18 November 2022. We are most grateful to Portsmouth City Council's Communities and Central Services Directorate for funding the purchase of the new oven as well as new chairs and a planned upgrade to the sound system in Becket Hall.

Chapter Meeting - 23 November 2022

Chapter meets on Wednesday to discuss the 2023 budget, the implementation of the 2021 Cathedrals Measure, as well other regular business.

The agenda will be available from our downloads page →



Worship & visiting


Portsmouth Cathedral is open daily for prayer, services and visiting. Booking is not required for services, unless otherwise indicated. You can find out more about visiting on our website, where you can also download orders of service.


Prayers and Intercessions

We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Marge, Beverley, Alistair, John, Nina, Lucy, Jean, Richard, Alan, Dave, Jill, Gerald and all those in need.

Long-term sick including: Alison, Clifford, Christopher, Jane, Suzy, Sarah, Izzy, Andrew, Peter, Graeme, Tom and Rachel.

We pray for those who have died recently: Nadjia Carpenter, Tracey Green and Baron Bedi RIP


Upcoming Services & Events

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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 pastoral@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk or leave a message via phone on 023 9282 3300.

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