A Christmas reflection from Dean Anthony

As 2022 draws to a close, I have been reflecting, with much thanksgiving, on all that has happened over the past twelve months.  Just a year ago I was cancelling Deanery carol service receptions because of the Omicron variant: we have come so far since then, emerging from the pandemic with renewed hope and vitality.
 
And so I give thanks in this season for great gift of the Christ-child, in whom we encounter the generous and transforming love of God.  I give thanks for the way in which our congregations have returned and grown (with Pompey Sundays having its largest ever congregation just a week ago).  I give thanks for the magnificent installation service for Bishop Jonathan in March, in which he was led into a packed cathedral by two teenagers.  I give thanks both for the way we were able to mark the Platinum Jubilee of our late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, and for the manner of our mourning as her extraordinary reign came to end, in which thousands came to the Cathedral for worship, to sign condolence books, and to participate in the funeral via screens in the nave.  I give thanks for the continued flourishing of our music, with excellent chorister recruitment (we currently have an amazing forty-eight, with equal numbers of girls and boys) and the ongoing outreach work of Cathedral Sing.
 
There is so much more to give thanks for (including continued progress in achieving financial sustainability, our renewed shop, and events such as ‘Wild Cathedral’ drawing new people through our doors) but above all I give thanks for you, our Cathedral community.   Thank you to our congregations and choirs, our volunteers, friends and planned givers, our staff and ministry team.  Thank you for your generosity and support through these turbulent times, as we seek to be ‘a beacon and safe haven, anchored in Jesus Christ.’
 
I wish you a blessed and joyful Christmas,
 
The Very Reverend Dr Anthony Cane,
Dean of Portsmouth

Dates for your diary…

• Christmas Carol Services – 24 Dec

• Crib Services - 24 Dec

• Midnight Mass - 24 Dec

• Christmas Day Services - 25 Dec

• Community Warm Space - 26 Dec & 2 Jan

• Epiphany Eucharist - 6 Jan

• Nativitas by Philip Moore - 6 Jan

• Community Warm Space - 9 Jan

• Parish Lunch Club - 9 Jan

See all our Christmas services and events →

Community News

Portsmouth Cathedral's Big Christmas Card

Last Sunday, our #PompeySundays congregation created a Big Christmas Card.  We are encouraging members of all our congregations to sign the card instead of sending individual cards to Cathedral friends. If you can, please donate to the Cathedral the amount you would have spent on cards, or whatever you can afford. This is one way we can reduce paper waste and help our planet, as well as wishing everyone a very happy Christmas!
  

Portsmouth Cathedral Institute launch 2023 programme of lectures, workshops, and talks

The Portsmouth Cathedral Institute is home to high quality research and public debate about the most important questions of ethics, the common good and human flourishing as they relate to the city of Portsmouth. A new programme of events for 2023 has now been announced with the return of the popular ‘Six Works’ series, as well as our 2023 Dolling Lecture, and a new Poetry Day event.
 
See more and book online →
  

Annual Muslim Christian Evening – 17 January

Our annual Muslim Christian Evening, now in its 28th year, will be held on 17 January 2023 at 7:15pm. The Cathedral's annual gathering with our friends from the Wessex Jamaat and from across the city has been held online for the last two years, but in 2023 it will return in person. Do join us for readings, music, reflections, and a shared meal and conversation. Further details will be available in the New Year.
  

Would you like to become a Cathedral guide?

Are you interested in joining our Cathedral Guides and Welcoming team? We're looking for people with a passion for history and a desire to provide a fantastic experience for every visitor to the Cathedral. If this is you, sign-up for our five week course, where you'll learn everything you need to know to become one of our renowned Cathedral Guides. In the sessions we'll be covering the Cathedral history, as well as how tours are operated, and the day-to-day of volunteering as a guide or welcomer.
 
Read more & sign-up →
  

Help support Christmas floral displays at the Cathedral

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.
 
Read more & donate →
  

Have you got a typewriter?

Help us to source a typewriter for a new event next year. We are working on an exciting experience for next year and currently we are trying to source a typewriter that can be used by the public for this experience. If anyone has a working typewriter that they no longer want and wish to donate to the Cathedral for this and possibly future events, please contact Rayne, our Visitor Experience Manager atevents@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk
  

Christmas Fair 2022 Update

Rachael our Volunteer Co-ordinator shares an update on the recent Cathedral Christmas Fair. Thank you to all those who volunteered at or donated items to the Christmas Fair, which this year raised over £5,300 to support the ministry of the Cathedral.
 
Read more →
  

Lunch Club Christmas Lunch & 2023 Dates

The members of our Lunch Club were treated to an extra special Christmas meal of turkey and all the trimmings, at the final Lunch Club date for 2022, last Monday 12 December. With thanks to Susan, Sarah, Rachael and newer volunteers Jude, Anna, Claire and Hazel who presented the members with not just a sumptuous main course but also a glass of wine, Christmas pudding, crackers and a raffle! For the raffle we had the assistance of 7-year-old Henry (Hazel’s Son) to sell and draw the tickets which made almost £90 towards the Lunch Club funds. Thank You Henry!
 
See photos and 2023 dates →
  

Around the Diocese at Christmas

Canon Kathryn is presiding and preaching at the Midnight Eucharist at St. Peter’s, Soberton on Christmas Eve, and Hannah is presiding and preaching at St. Peter & St. Paul, Hambledon at 11:00am on Christmas Day.
  

New career opportunity: Learning and Schools Officer

Are you interested in working with us to:

• shape a new approach to education and learning at Portsmouth Cathedral?

• engage even more widely across schools and young people of the Diocese?

• help children and young people of all backgrounds to grow in their understanding of the Christian faith?

 
Our Vision and Strategy sets out ambitious plans to increase our impact as a Christian worshipping community, a place of nurture and discovery, a civic space, artistic venue, and visitor destination – whilst improving our financial sustainability through commercial events and fundraising.  A central part of this vision is our intention to be bold and inclusive in our approach to learning, as we emerge from the pandemic.
 
If this sounds like something you would be interested in please download the application pack.  For an informal conversation please contact Canon Kathryn Percival onKathryn.percival@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk.
 
Learn more & download an application pack →
  

Cathedral Office & Shop closure over Christmas and New Year

 The Cathedral Offices will be closed from lunchtime on Friday, 23 December 2022, and will re-open on Tuesday, 3 January 2023.

The Cathedral Shop will be closed from the evening of Saturday 24 December, and reopen again at 10:00am on Tuesday 10 January 2023. You cancontinue to shop onlinethroughout, deliveries and collections will not be processed until the shop reopens.
 
Please also note there will be no Cathedral Notices published during the Christmas period (Sunday 1 January 2023), Notices will return the week after (Sunday 8 January).

Cathedral Staff on duty can be contacted throughinfo@portsmouthcathedral.org.ukor 023 9282 3300.
 
Read more →

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.
 

Changes to services between 26–30 December

 Please note changes to our regular daily services between 26 and 30 December, changes are as follows; Morning Prayer - 9:00am, Holy Communion 9:20am, Evening Prayer 4:00pm.
 
See our service list for changes to our service times over the Christmas period →

Prayers and Intercessions

We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Alan, Lucy, Beverley, Alistair, Jean, Richard, Babs, Chris, Hermione, Marilyn, Martyn, Mariane, Tom,  Jude and all those in need.
 
We give thanks for Derek’s encouraging improvement in health
 
Long-term sick including: Edward, Jill, Suzy, Andrew, Peter, Graeme, Sarah, Izzy, Clifford, Christopher, Alison, Jane, Rachel and John.
 
We pray for those who have died recently: John Wilkinson, Professor David Price, Trevor Mitchell, Pat Darbin, Dennis Russell (former Head chorister), Tom Day (former chorister), Richard Buswell (funeral 4 Jan 2pm), Shirley Coward (funeral 5 Jan 2pm), Sheila Downing 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 pastoral@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk or leave a message via phone on 023 9282 3300.

Have news or story you’d like to share? Submit a notice 📰