Portsmouth Cathedral

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Weekly Notices | 5 February 2023

Portsmouth Cathedral

A reflection from Canon Anthony

Christmas season is now over. The tree in the cathedral has come down, and the crib has been packed away for another year. Ordinary time begins.

Our last act of the Christmas season this year was a celebration of Anna Chaplaincy at Candlemas. It was wonderful to see the cathedral act as a focus for a national ministry campaign that focuses on the need to reach out to older people. It was appropriate that a ministry that is about bringing light and hope to older people should be celebrated at a Christian festival of light. The launch of this ministry in the diocese this year has been a true success with chaplains licensed across our deaneries.

Anna Chaplaincy is about more than offering pastoral care to members of church congregations, although that can certainly be part of the role. Rather it is about serving older people in the local community through such acts as visiting nursing homes or creating new opportunities for the local church to gather and support older people. It is therefore an outward looking ministry that seeks to enable those currently beyond the church’s congregations to spiritually develop through very practical engagement with the church.

As we move out of the period of pandemic and think beyond the issues of getting by and surviving lockdown that then dominated our lives, it is good for the church to think about how it can reach out in new ways to both the young and the old. Anna Chaplaincy in the life of both the cathedral and diocese will be a significant way in which we can do this.

More information on Anna Chaplaincy can be found here (PDF). Our own Rosemary Fairfax has just undertaken training as an Anna Chaplain and will be commissioned soon.

The Reverend Canon Dr. Anthony Rustell,

Residentiary Canon

Dates for your diary…

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Community News

Attendees at the Anna Chaplaincy event held at the Cathedral | Photos by Diocese of Portsmouth

Solent Symphony Orchestra to bring Spring to Life with Classical Music Extravaganza – Saturday 4 March

The Solent Symphony Orchestra invites music lovers to its upcoming Spring Classics Concert at Portsmouth's historic Cathedral (Saturday 4 March). Featuring the talented Alexandra Peel, winner of the 2022 Portsmouth Music Festival Concerto Award, this is sure to be a musical extravaganza.
 
In this concert, the Solent Symphony Orchestra will bring some of classical music's most famous pieces to life. The programme includes works by Mozart, Bruch and Brahms. The audience will be transported through time to experience the beauty and grandeur of classical music in the magnificent surroundings of Portsmouth Cathedral. The highlight of the evening will be the performance by the evening's soloist, Alexandra Peel. Her performance of Bruch’s famous Violin Concerto will captivate the audience and showcase her great talent and virtuosity. Alexandra's delicate touch and her technical prowess will bring the music to life, creating a truly unforgettable experience for those in attendance.
 
Read more →
Book online →

#ShowTheLove

This February, The Climate Coalition invite us to #ShowTheLove for our planet, using the power of green hearts to seek urgent action from decision-makers to tackle climate change, protect nature, and bring down bills. Look out for our posts on social media, and find out more at the Show The Love website.
This Sunday, the #PompeySundays congregation will be making green hearts, which you can wear, share, or send to your MP.

Fairtrade Breakfast – Sunday 19 February

All are welcome to join us for an annual Fairtrade breakfast (ahead of Lent), where once again Fairtrade products will be used for some tasty breakfast treats, after services on Sunday 19 February.
 
This year as well as the usual croissants, toast, spreads, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and juice, we will also be providing pancakes with various fillings!
 
Save the date in your diary - Sunday, 19 February, taking place at 8:30am, 10:00am and after the 11:00am service. Donations from the breakfast will be shared between the Cathedral and the Fairtrade Foundation.

Friends Coffee Morning - 7 Feb, 11:00am

Come along and catch up with other members of the Cathedral community in Becket Hall. All are welcome to join, learn more about the Friends and their work to support the Cathedral.
 
To learn more about the Friends and how you can become a member please visit our website →

UNTIL SUNDAY: National Storytelling Week at Portsmouth Cathedral

Portsmouth Cathedral invites visitors to celebrate National Storytelling Week by creating their own personal story within the walls of the historic Cathedral. From 30 January to 5 February four stations will be set up around the Cathedral where visitors can draw inspiration from the building and prompts provided to create their own unique story.
 
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Fabric Advisory Committee Meeting

The Fabric Advisory Committee (FAC) meets for its first meeting of 2023 on 7 February.  Please see the Agenda for this meeting on our downloads page.
 
The Committee will review work in advance of the start of the development of the new Conservation Management Plan (CMP).  A renewed CMP is a key document as the Cathedral plans toward any buildings work associated within the 100th anniversary of the Cathedral in 2027.  The document will help us to better understand the Cathedral building and precinct and its use by the community, its significance, identify potential and constraints and help to develop management policies.
 
Learn more about Conservation Management Plans →

A wonderful turn-out for the annual Muslim Christian Evening with Wessex Jamaat

Portsmouth Cathedral was delighted to host the 28th annual Muslim Christian Evening, with our friends from the Wessex Jamaat, on 17 January. This was the first meeting to be held in person since 2020, and the theme for the evening was ‘Vocation in everyday life’. 
 
The Very Revd Dr. Anthony Cane, Dean of Portsmouth, welcomed everyone and spoke of the joy we experienced at being able to see each other face to face once more. Speaking on the theme, Maya Fatemah described calling as being God’s gift, like a seed within us, which we need to use for good, and Jen Todd spoke of how her faith is based on hope – that through all the choices she makes, God will be with her. 
 
Sheikh Fazle Abbas Datoo said that we need each other as humans, and encouraged us to build bridges of love, learning from one another and removing misconceptions, and there was a discussion in small groups, over a delicious bring-and-share meal, about how faith was shaping people’s lives. Music was provided by the choral scholars of Portsmouth Cathedral, and the accounts of the Annunciation, from the Bible and the Qur’an, were read. We are all looking forward very much to meeting next year, and to planning for the 30th anniversary event in 2025!

Cathedral Measure - Nominations Committee

Portsmouth Cathedral has begun the planning to implement the Cathedrals Measure (2021) at the end of 2023. This brings cathedrals under Charity Commission regulation and strengthens governance and operational frameworks.  
 
In due course the Cathedral will have a new Constitution and Statutes under which the Cathedral’s trustee body will be Chapter.  One of the aims of the Measure is that the membership of Chapter should bring together individuals with a broad range of skills, knowledge, expertise and experience to bring in best practice of  strategic leadership for the Cathedral and lead the Cathedral in being transparent and accountable.  The new Chapter will be supported by a number of subsidiary committees, one of which will be a new Nominations Committee, chaired by Sir David Normington, which will advise on the recruitment of non-executive members of the new Chapter along with other Chapter Committees.  
 
Read more →

 

Chapter News

Chapter met on25 January for its first regular meeting of 2023. Chapter received a presentation from the Cathedral’s new Visitor Experience Manager, Rayne Skora.  Only two months in post, Rayne highlighted work already underway as well as outline plans for enhancing the Cathedral as a place for all to visit, experience and worship in.
 
Chapter discussed continued next steps in the implementation of the Cathedrals Measure 2021 here at Portsmouth. Liz Snowball, as the Cathedral lead on the introduction of Measure, provided an update on background work being completed and the efforts of the Working Group comprised of members of both Cathedral Council, Chapter, the COO and Liz.  Please watch these Notices for more information in the coming weeks and months.
 
Chichester-based accountancy firm, Sheen Stickland was appointed Cathedral financial auditors for the 2022 audit.  Sheen Stickland carry out accountancy work with over 180 charities and currently are the auditors for Chichester Cathedral.
 
Reports from the Chancellor, Precentor and COO highlighted the depth and breadth of work being carried out across the Cathedral and into the community by Cathedral volunteers, staff, and Ministry Team.
 
Highlights included:

  • A return to regular Advent and Christmas services led by Canon Jo with each one very well attended. 

  • Income over this period from collections totalled just under £7,000 which is a great improvement from 2020 and 2021, but has not yet returned  to pre-Covid levels of giving of circa £8,000.

  • Events activities, led by Jemima Crayden, saw revenue of just under £14,000 over the Christmas period including from the CRUK and Gabrieli/ROAR events.

  • Chapter confirmed their support for Rosemary Fairfax, BEM, and Rachel Forder to train as the Cathedral’s first two Anna Chaplains.

  • Matt Hill is the new chair of the Portsmouth Cathedral Choir Association (PCCA). The PCCA does important work in supporting the choir as well as through events like “Seafood on the Green”. Congratulations Matt and many thanks for taking on this important role.

Heating Feasibility Study begins

 On 8 February, work begins on the Heating Feasibility Study. This study will inform the heating choices Chapter will have to make over the next few years as the ageing heating system in the Cathedral will have to be replaced with a much more energy efficient system as we work toward Net Zero 2030 targets. The study will look at a whole site heating solution, including the Cathedral and Cathedral House. Costs for such a replacement are in the region of £400,000 - £500,000.
 
This study has been made possible through the generous funding from the Friends of Portsmouth Cathedral and the Church Commissioners. 
 
To learn more about the Friends and how you can become a member please visit our website →

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.

Prayers and Intercessions

We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Chris, Martyn, Tom, Beverley,
Jude, Don, Alistair, Lucy, Jean, Alan, Rosemary, Margaret and all those in need.

Long-term sick including: Graeme, Sarah, Alison, Jane, Jill, Suzy, Andrew, Rachel, John, Edward, Peter and Richard.

We pray for those who have died recently, including: Diana Villar, Roy Stickland, John Friars (Funeral at Portchester Crematorium Wednesday 8 February 1:30pm), Arthur Bailey (Funeral at Cathedral Thursday 23 February 2:45pm), Marnie Linington and John Herklots (former Honorary Canon) 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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