Weekly Notices | Sunday, 10 October 2021
Welcoming the new Bishop of Portsmouth!
We are delighted that Jonathan Frost, currently Dean of York and formerly Bishop of Southampton, has been appointed as the tenth Bishop of Portsmouth.
We will be praying for him daily, and it will be wonderful to welcome him and Christine to the diocese. The Cathedral is ‘the seat of the bishop and a centre of worship and mission’ and we look forward to working with him in serving God and neighbour: the people of this diocese, city, and communities across Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight and East Hampshire.
In due course, his installation in the Cathedral will be the occasion for much rejoicing!
Anthony Cane,
Dean of Portsmouth
A reflection from Canon Jo
The special relationship we have here at Portsmouth Cathedral with the Royal Marines Band Service goes back over 20 years. The headquarters of the Band Service and its School of Music moved from Deal in Kent to Portsmouth in 1996, and they started coming here to the Cathedral for an annual service shortly after. The RMBS Memorial Service remembers all who have served as Royal Marines Musicians supporting the work of all personnel on active service in times of conflict, as well as in significant ceremonial roles in peacetime.
So, we are delighted that on Sunday we are able to renew this link, with the RMBS Memorial Service once again taking place in the Cathedral in front of a congregation – after a recorded service was filmed and relayed last year. There will be the traditional half an hour of music played by the Band from 10.30am before the service itself starts at 11.00am. Our Cathedral Choir will sing with the RM Musicians - including a movement from John Rutter’s ‘Gloria’ - and the thrilling Fanfare Trumpets will ring out in the Nave once again.
There is a new element this year in that a Corps of Buglers will play for the first time and will sound the Last Post as part of the service. It is 100 years since the silver drums were first dedicated in 1921 to remember the fallen of the Great War. These are still used to form the Drum Altar at the Memorial Service here, and they have been rededicated this year to include the 80 Buglers and Boy Buglers who gave their lives in both World Wars. So, we will hear the Buglers play on Sunday to commemorate this special anniversary.
It will also be a privilege to welcome the new Chaplain of the Fleet and Archdeacon for the Royal Navy, the Venerable Andrew Hillier QHC, as he comes to the Cathedral for the first time in this new role, and he will be the preacher at the service.
We invite you all to come to celebrate the lives of service and the dedication shown by the Musicians of the Royal Marines Band Service. Together we recognise the inspiration that music offers in many areas of our national life as well as in our worship of God.
Our Lunch Club returns for the first time since March 2020, with special guests the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Portsmouth. Also pictured, one of the Lunch Club founders, Mrs Joan Eddings, MBE (right), and Maureen Cole (left), the leader of Lunch Club.
Lunch Club restarts with special guests
The Cathedral’s popular Lunch Club restarted today, and we were delighted and honoured to have the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress as our guests of honour at this special first meeting since the start of the pandemic, as well as the Bishop-designate, the Rt Revd Dr. Jonathan Frost, who said Grace and chatted to our guests. Look out for coverage in the local press!
Lunch Club will meet every Friday at 12.30 pm in Becket Hall. We are very grateful to the Duke of Buckingham pub for catering for us. A hot lunch, pudding, and tea / coffee will be provided for £5.00, and guests will be asked to opt in each week so that we have a good idea of numbers.
To sign up for next week, pleasecontactMaureen Cole or Canon Kathryn. If you would consider volunteering to help at Lunch Club, pleasecontactCanon Kathryn.
Christmas Fair – Any goods to donate?
Ann Wilson and her team are hard at work with much progress made already in plans for the Christmas Fair on Saturday 4 December
The Team are now in need of good quality donations for all the stalls. Please start asking friends and family if they have any donations for the Fair so we can produce the sort of quantity and quality we have had in the past.
Find out more →
Have a talent for making things happen?
We are looking for a motivated Events Manager with good leadership skills who will be a central part to us achieving the goals of our cathedral vision and strategy. Responsible for creating a programme of annual events that will raise our profile, raise income or indeed both, at the same time!
Over the past year, with the help of the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage, we have undertaken research and analysis to better understand the interests of those who live in our local area. The ideal candidate will draw upon this research to develop an engaging and diverse events programme, alongside planning landmark events to mark our 2027 centenary celebrations.
Please share this exciting opportunity with family and friends. The closing date is 24 October.
Find out more →
2022 Budget – Approved and Received
Cathedral Council met on Wednesday evening and received the 2022 budget which had been approved by Chapter in mid-September
The 2022 budget sets an income target of £884,236 against expenditure of £980,566 and a consequent projected deficit of £96,330. This is a decrease from the 2021 budget deficit of £108,000. With careful management over the coming year, the Cathedral will look to contain expenditure and increase income so we move towards a balanced budget. This was more or less achieved in 2020 when the Financial Accounts reported a slight loss of £5,576 before unrealised gains on investments, but both the current year and 2022 are even more challenging than in 2020.
The Cathedral has been exceptionally fortunate to receive two further 100% grant funded posts from the Cathedral Sustainability Fund for a Visitor Experience and Volunteer Manager and an Events Manager. Recruitment is underway for start dates early in the new year. As the Cathedral returns to pre-pandemic worship and event patterns, Chapter approved the recruitment of an additional 30 hour verger post. In addition our Assistant Verger, who has been 50% verger and 50% administrative assistant since June last year, will return to full time verger duties in the near future. A new 3-4 day Administrative Assistant will be recruited to help support the work across the team. Recruitment will begin shortly. A further amendment to our financial relationship with the Diocese will also take place for 2022.
We will be holding an open meeting for anyone in the congregation to find out more and ask questions in November. The exact date and time will be shared in due course.
Richard Abraham, Chief Operating Officer, reflects: “The 2022 budget reflects some real progress that has been made not just in containing expenditure, but investing in our buildings, staff and volunteers as well as future growth in terms of income and new people coming into the Cathedral. The Cathedral still has a long way to go to ensure we are financially stable over the medium to longer term, but much progress has been made. This is due to the commitment of the staff and volunteer teams over a hugely challenging 18 months and the support of the congregation in terms of prayer. Your time and financial support all helped us to continue to build a thriving community of God just north of the Solent and for the wider Diocese”
Safeguarding News
The Cathedral is currently working on a Safeguarding Action Plan in response to our positive and helpful SCIE audit, and we are aiming to publish both the audit document and our Action Plan in the first week of November.
Our plans include conducting a staff survey, developing our Service Level and Information Sharing Agreements with our diocese, recruiting a Records Manager (to ensure compliance with GDPR), strengthening the safeguards around lone working, expanding the range of safeguarding training available to our staff and volunteers, and reviewing our social media policies, especially in relation to children and young people.
Safeguarding is an area where we must ensure there is continuous improvement in that all we do. While we were pleased the SCIE auditors were very positive in their findings, we are grateful to them for helping us identify areas where we can further strengthen our safeguarding practice to help ensure we provide a safe and welcoming environment for all.
Visiting Curate – Wendy May Jacobs
We are delighted to welcome the Revd Wendy May Jacobs, Assistant Curate at Holy Trinity and St Columba, Fareham who is with us for two weeks on the first cathedral placement since the beginning of the pandemic.
Thank you from Catherine Edenborough
I have recently taken delivery of the stole that was a gift from the Cathedral for my ordination as priest and it is beautiful. It has taken a while to come because it was designed and made specially. It was really lovely to be able to incorporate motifs from the Cathedral in the design.
Thank you to everyone who contributed towards it - I so look forward to wearing it. The new stole will be blessed at a forthcoming service.
Sharing our experience
Last week Sophie, Head of Fundraising and Events, spoke at the online Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s annual convention as part of their professional development strand of seminars.
Worship and Visiting
#PompeySundays pet service last Sunday, 3 Ocotber 2021
Portsmouth Cathedral is open daily for prayer, services and visiting. Booking is no longer required for services, unless otherwise indicated. You find out more on our website and download orders of service.
We continue to take every precaution to reduce the spread of coronavirus, including encouraging the wearing of face-coverings, checking in with the NHS Covid-19 app and remaining at a safe distance from other groups. Further information can be found our Covid-19 information page.
Changes to services this Sunday
This Sunday we'll be joined by the Royal Marines Band for their memorial service at 11:00am, this means #PompeySundays will be at 3pm, and our Eucharist will be 5:45pm.
Great South Run – Sunday, 17 October
There are changes to our regular services next week due the Great South Run. Eucharist will take place at 5:45pm instead of 11:00am. If you are joining us at 8:00am or for Pompey Sundays at 9:30am please look at the road closures that will be in place. Good luck to all those taking part!
Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the completion of the Nave
We are delighted that Bishop Graeme Knowles will be joining us on Advent Sunday, 28 November, as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the completion of the Cathedral.
Prayers and Intercessions
All those affected by COVID-19
We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Trevor, Derek, Clare, Mervyn, Beverley, Richard, Aaron, Jane, Alan, Libby, Lesley, Hilary, David, Stan, and all those in need.
Long-term sick including: Alison, Graeme, Christopher, Clifford, Jane, Johnny, Melissa, Andrew, Jenny, Suzy, Sarah, Bob, Michael, Rita and Izzy.
We pray for those who have died recently: Ken Appleford, Jeannette Dowle,
June Bryant, Jean Battye, Audrey Taylor and George Williams RIP.
Upcoming Services & Events
Eco Discussion Group | Tuesdays at 7:00pm
In anticipation of the COP26 summit, we are studying Ruth Valerio’s book Saying Yes to Life (available from the Cathedral Shop). The book is founded on the premise that as people made in the image of God, we are entrusted to look after what he has created. Valerio imaginatively draws on the Days of Creation from Genesis 1 as she relates their themes to environmental, ethical, and social concerns.
The sessions areheld over Zoom, and the link will be sent with the email version of the notices. For our third session, we will be looking at ch. 3: ‘Let the land produce vegetation’. Newcomers welcome.
Join us on Zoom
Sign up to our email notices to get the link for this group.
Lunchtime Live: Musicians from The Portsmouth Grammar School | Thursday, 1:10pm
A group of talented young music students from The Portsmouth Grammar School, accompanied by Karen Kingsley.
Find out more
Halabja: In the Golden Days | Daily from 14 October until 3 November
Before it was the target of a devastating chemical weapons attack by the Iraqi Army in 1988, Halabja was renowned for its beauty and place as a centre of Kurdish culture. In this major new exhibition, Gulan presents a colourful celebration of Kurdish culture including costumes, jewellery and a landmark new art commission to be installed in the cathedral nave. A special Evensong to launch the event will be held at 5:45 pm on Thursday 14 October, and do look out for some wonderful new Kurdish items in the shop.
‘Halabja: in the Golden Days’ is part of the Journeys Festival International 2021 and is free to visit.
Learn more →
Christmas Fair | 4 December 2021
Led by Ann Wilson and a group of dedicated volunteers, the much-loved Cathedral Parish Christmas Fair returns later this year. The Fair will take place on Saturday, 4 December 2021 – so put it in your diaries!! If you would like to volunteer or make things for the stalls, please emailinfo@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk
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.