A reflection from Canon Kathryn

Just before Easter, our family had the great privilege of attending an Iftar – the meal which breaks the daily fast of Ramadan – at the Wessex Jamaat in Fareham. This was one of the rare years in which Ramadan and Lent coincided (the last being nearly 30 years ago) and it was very moving to see the disciplines of Islam, in some ways parallel to our own, and in others quite different.

There was such joy and energy in the air as we arrived that it was hard to believe that those around us – even some of the young children – had been fasting all day. But then the atmosphere quietened, as the sun went down and prayers were chanted – and not just chanted, but embodied in the ritual movements which accompanied them. After prayers, a single date broke the fast, and then we were treated to the magnificent array of the Iftar, as dish after dish was produced. It was in a way like experiencing Lent and Easter on a short loop, and as I listened to our loving and generous hosts, I became aware that both abstinence and plenty are experienced by them as gifts, each drawing them closer to the abundance of God, and also that through each, the heart is called to be enlarged, so that the vulnerable are cared for and the stranger made welcome. Bishop Jonathan, who gave a short address before prayers, spoke of the love of a mother – the love of Mary, also venerated in Islam – a love which is not finite, but can grow to encompass many people, reflecting the boundless love of God himself.

Here at Portsmouth Cathedral, our Season of Generosity comes as Lent has finished and Easter has arrived, but in reality, in these between-times, the two seasons are always held together in our lives, in our places, and in the world: the short loop of fasting and feasting is part of daily experience. The risen Christ, who has conquered death, shines in the darkness of war and poverty, of refugees and rising fuel prices. It is because of his love that we can be bold enough to turn outwards from our own concerns and be generous with the gifts he has poured out upon us, so that this Season can become a way of life for all seasons.

Community News

Season of Generosity continues this week

The Season of Generosity continues this week. To find out more about how your regular donations can make a difference to our ministry and mission, pick up a booklet from the cathedral welcome area or visit our website.

Donations of all sizes make a real difference and are very gratefully received. For example, if 75% of the electoral roll were to increase their giving by £5 a week, the cost of a glass of wine or a sandwich, we would raise an additional £50,000 a year.

We are very aware that we are living in financially challenging times. If you aren't able to support us or increase your support now, please consider including a gift to Portsmouth Cathedral in your will, after remembering family and friends. Your legacy will enable a bright future for the cathedral and all the communities we serve. Find out more at portsmouthcathedral.org.uk/legacy or pick up a Leave a Lasting booklet from the welcome area.

Don't forget to return your pledge forms for dedication by Thursday 5 May.

Learn more about the Season of Generosity →

Jubilee Celebrations of Royal Proportions at Portsmouth Cathedral

We welcome you to celebrate this unprecedented anniversary with us at Portsmouth Cathedral, with concerts, community events and family friendly activities taking place across the bank holiday weekend from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 June.

Visitors are invited to join a treasure hunt in and around the Cathedral, searching for The Queen Mother’s lost shoe! The ‘Hunt for the Lost Shoe’ treasure hunt is an ideal activity for families and children of all ages. Inspired by the unique story of how The Queen Mother really did lose her shoe on a visit to Portsmouth Cathedral in 1991, participants who successfully find the lost shoe will be entered into a draw to win a handmade ‘Crocheted Corgi’!

Portsmouth Cathedral’s own Organist and Master of Choristers, Dr David Price, will be treating audiences to an evening of wonderful music on Friday 3 June. The final in our 2022 series ofevening organ recitalsin the unique surroundings of Portsmouth Cathedral, the recital will feature music from Royal ceremonies and occasions throughout the ages.

Continuing the music theme, the Solent Symphony Orchestra present a ‘Platinum Proms by the Sea’ featuring many familiar favourites including Nimrod, Jerusalem and the National Anthem plus many more with a royal theme. The Solent Symphony Orchestra have a longstanding tradition of performing at the Cathedral, holding an important and unique musical role within the city of Portsmouth, booking Is advised for what is expected to be an extremely popular concert.

Sunday afternoon the whole community are encouraged to grab a chair and join the party everyone is invited to! Taking place on the Cathedral’s green,The Big Jubilee Lunchis just one of many such events taking place nationally across the UK. Throughout the past century, Brit’s have been well known for our community celebrations, traditionally drawing people out of their homes to come together to mark special days. We look forward to continuing this tradition with an explosion of bunting across the Cathedral! People are invited to bring their own food, and alongside ‘The Hunt for the Lost Slipper’ treasure hunt, there will also be a number of traditional games, including everyone’s frustrating favourite, hook a duck! Refreshments including teas, coffees and The Dean’s Tipple gin will also be available to enjoy, as well as a special royal themed cocktail on offer, a perfect way toast to Her Majesty. Music and entertainment will also take place throughout the day, with further details being announced in the coming weeks on our website.

Music during Sunday morning services including 11am Eucharist and 9:30am #PompeySundays will feature music with a royal theme. Portsmouth Cathedral Choir will be rounding off the weekend’s celebrations singing for a special Choral Evensong for the Platinum Jubilee with representatives from parish choirs across our diocese, taking place on the evening of Sunday 5 June. All are welcome to join in with the choir – please book via this linkJubilee Evensong with Portsmouth Cathedral Choir | RSCM

In the lead up to the Jubilee, ‘Portsmouth Cathedral’s Big Bunting Challenge’ invites seamstresses and seamsters from across the city to help adorn the Cathedral in hundreds of meters of recycled bunting. Budding creatives can find a template for ‘Cathedral Sized’ bunting on the Portsmouth Cathedral website, with a Portsmouth Cathedral Shop Gift Voucher up for grabs to the person who makes the most bunting!

Learn more about our Jubilee Celebrations →

Portsmouth Cathedral lights up for Cathedrals at Night – 14 May, 7pm

Portsmouth Cathedral will open its doors on May 14 taking visitors on a journey from dusk to dawn. Starting in the St. Thomas Chapel, the oldest part of the Cathedral, visitors will be guided through the colours and sounds of early evening. Moving into the Baptistry, explorers will be immersed in starry night sky, finishing in the Nave with the emerging light of dawn. Using light, projection and sound, visitors will be able to enjoy the Cathedral in a whole new light with entry free to this unique experience. Cathedrals at Night will take place shortly after a reflective Taizé service at 5:45pm, which is open to all to attend.

Learn more here →

Enhancing our Biodiversity on Cathedral Green

Earlier this Spring led by our Cathedral Climate Champion Sue Ward, we met with the City Council concerning how we might enhance biodiversity on Cathedral Green. As a member of Eco Church, the Cathedral is committed to taking such actions that will preserve and enhance God’s creation.

The City has agreed to create two wildflower bed ellipses on the South-East grassed area, a wildflower bed beside the main path leading to the West Door, and to start a mowing pattern in late May that will leave a circle of unmown lawn around all the trees. These steps will increase biodiversity while not interfering with the enjoyment of the Green by the congregation and our neighbours.

Earlier this Spring the City cut the undergrowth around the large tree on the South-West lawn and very kindly did a tidy up of the Green on the day before Bishop Jonathan’s installation. They have also confirmed that they will not use any harmful chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, or fertilisers) in the management of Cathedral Green.

Chapter would like to thank and acknowledge Portsmouth City Council’s Parks and Open Spaces Team for their efforts – they are very much appreciated.

The Big Draw - 9 and 10 May, 10:00am-2:30pm

Come and join students from Highbury College and other local schools for The Big Draw – a school and community art project being held over two days in the Cathedral Nave. We will be designing bunting (which will be displayed in the ambulatory) on the themes of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Queen’s Green Canopy, sea pollution, and ‘dots’, as well as making badges. All are welcome welcome to join.

Tickets booking fast for BSO Voices: Requiem 2020

We look forward to welcoming Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. With less than a month to go, make sure you've purchased your ticket! Requiem 2020 reflects on a year of great upheaval, events that resounded around the world and when climate change really came to the fore. Written for chorus and four soloists plus orchestra it is thrilling work based around the traditional religious liturgy but with added lyrics sourced from quotations by Martin Luther King Jnr, JK Rowling, Khalil Gibran and Joaquin Phoenix, as well as the last words by George Floyd – “I can’t breathe!

Find out more and book online →

Easter Egg Sale

An Egg is not just for Easter Day! Make the 50-day season ‘eggstra-special’, with 20% off all chocolate eggs in our shop and online store.

Shop online here →

Lunch Club returns on Monday 9 May

We are delighted to announce that thanks to a new cooking team of Rachael Forder and friends, and to our existing volunteers, Lunch Club can restart. Meeting on the new day of Mondays, starting on 9 May, at 12:30pm in Becket Hall. Our aim is to meet every two weeks, but this will have to be varied slightly during the summer term.

Additional dates are 9 and 23 May, 13 and 20 June, and 4 July. We will restart in the autumn on 12 September.

The cost of a two-course hot lunch is £5. All are most welcome. Existing members will be contacted directly, but if you have not been before, please contact the Cathedral Office, by Friday 6 May, if you would like to attend the first session.

Find further information on our website →

Education Volunteers

As we look forward to welcoming school parties back to the Cathedral in due course, and to the primary school Leavers’ Services and workshops in the summer, we would love to recruit some more people to our Education Department, to work with our existing wonderful volunteers. If you are interested in this role, please speak to Canon Kathryn.

Help for Ukrainian Refugees

Our Diocese, working with Citizens UK, has committed to finding 50 hosts for Ukrainian refugees, together with others to befriend and support. If you would like to know more, visit the Diocese website or speak to Canon Nick Ralph.

This past week when Shaping Portsmouth (Shaping Portsmouth – Shaping Portsmouth) put out the call for help in funding the welcome packs for the first 35 Ukrainian refugees, the Cathedral was pleased to be able to respond and provide all the necessary funding. This is a small, but tangible example of how in this Season of Generosity, your continued financial commitment to our community makes this all possible.

Fish and Chip Supper and Quiz – Thank You!

A big thank you to all who organised and attended last Saturday’s fish and chip supper. We raised £419.04 for the USPG Ukraine appeal.

Diocesan Surveys and Property Managers Conference

During this past week, the Cathedral was pleased to host the bi-annual conference of the people charged with maintaining the built environment of the Church of England.

In addition to their discussions on Net Zero targets, heat pumps, electric car charging point, the changes in building regulations and a debate about how to develop a Retrofit Policy, the group were brought greetings and an opening prayer by the Dean, heard from the Chief Operating Officer about how we are working to conserve the Cathedral and our buildings for future generations and had an expert tour of the Cathedral from Head Guide, Margaret Wilson.

Revision of Electoral Roll

The Electoral Roll is now being revised until 5 May. A list of the names of those currently on the roll is now on display in the Cathedral or can be viewed in the Cathedral Offices. You can also check if your name is on the roll by contacting the Electoral Roll Officer, Terry Ward through trwingb@yahoo.co.uk. If any of your details have changed in the last year, please contact Terry or the offices to ensure that we have the correct details for you.

The Electoral Roll is the register of the church’s voting members; baptised adults (over 16 years) who live in the parish, and those who have worshipped (or would have worshipped), regularly, at the Cathedral for at least six months are eligible to join. If you qualify to join, we encouraged you to show your commitment to the Cathedral’s life and mission by joining the Electoral Roll. Application forms are available in the Cathedral or through the link. They must be received before 5th May to be included on the roll before the Annual Parochial Church Meeting which takes place on 24 May 2022.

Read more on our website →

Election of Churchwardens, Chapter and Cathedral Council members

At the Cathedral's Annual Meetings on 24 May at 7:00pm, there is the opportunity to elect our Churchwardens, and two members of Chapter (the Cathedral's governing body).

One of the Chapter members must also be a Churchwarden. Sheila Picton, who has served as Churchwarden for six consecutive terms of office, stands down at the election as required by the Churchwardens Measure. We are indebted to her and Ronald Rabbetts, for all they do in enabling our life and work, and to members of Chapter for their vital role in overseeing our overall strategy, and key decision making. We are also grateful to members of Council for their role in the Cathedral’s current governance structure which is due to change next year under the 2021 Cathedrals Measure.

You are invited to consider if either of those roles might be for you - and if so, to discuss this with Dean Anthony. He would be delighted to have several conversations, with a whole variety of people!

There is also an opportunity to stand for election as one of our congregational representatives on Cathedral Council. If you would be interested in this role please contact Dean Anthony or the Chair of Cathedral Council, Kate Branigan.

Chapter

Chapter meets on Wednesday. The agenda for the meeting will be on our downloads page shortly.

Current Vacancies

We are currently recruiting for an Assistant Verger and Precinct Officer. We have readvertised this position with new salary options; please share this opportunity with your wider networks.

Find out more and apply on our website →

Foodbank Donations

Many families are feeling the struggle of the recent cost of living crisis, your support of the Roberts Centre Foodbank has never been more important. Donations of food and toiletries are particularly needed at the moment and greatly appreciated by those using the service.

Please bring your donations to the Foodbank collection point in the Welcome Area during the Cathedral’s daily opening hours.

Worship and 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 or find our Covid-19 visitor information.

Preaching Series

Continuing our Sunday Evensong series of sermons by our Honorary Canons we look forward to welcoming the Venerable Peter Sutton, Priest in Charge Empshott, Greatham and Hawkley with Priors Dean on Sunday 15 May at 5.45pm.

New time for Morning Prayer

Morning Prayer is now back at its pre-pandemic time of 7:40am, with a service of Holy Communion following at 8.00am. And after more than two years of live-streaming Morning Prayer, first from the homes of the Ministry Team and then from the Cathedral itself, we have taken the difficult decision to cease doing this.

We would like to express grateful thanks to all who have prayed with us in this way, especially during successive lockdowns, and also to the small core of people who have stayed with us as the numbers doing so (very understandably) have got smaller and smaller. All comers will of course be extremely welcome to join us in St Thomas's Chapel as we begin the day in prayer.

Prayers and Intercessions

We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Beverley, Richard, Jane, Alan, Amanda, Wendy, Derek, Denise, Debbie, Jane, Margaret, Rachel, Lucy, Martin, Susan, Caroline, Tom, Jean, and all those in need.

Long-term sick including: Alison, Christopher, Clifford, Jane, Johnny, Melissa, Jenny, Suzy, Sarah, Bob, Michael, Rita, Izzy, Graeme, Clare, Libby, Hilary, Andrew, and Peter.

We pray for those who have died recently: Irene Williams, Edward Parker-Jervis, and Roy Purnell 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.