A reflection from Dean Anthony

Having had the wonderful privilege of presiding at my own son’s wedding last Saturday in the Cathedral, and with our 37th wedding anniversary coming up next week, thoughts of marriage are very much on my mind. In the week since the wedding, I have been reflecting on the words in the marriage service about the couple being ‘united with one another in heart, body and mind, as Christ is united with his bride, the Church.’

One of the things I said in my wedding address concerned the wedding vows, and how amazing it is to make a commitment to someone until ‘death us do part’. For in so doing you are promising to stay faithful not just to the person you see now, but also to the person they will become as the years and decades unfold. I am well aware of how much I have changed since my wedding day, in far more ways than the colour of my hair!

Baptism also represents a lifelong commitment, and indeed the promise that our relationship with Christ is so deep and powerful that nothing in life or death ‘will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 8.39). In the baptism service, lifelong commitments are made: to turn away from sin, to reject evil, to turn to Christ as Saviour, and trust in Christ as Lord. These commitments are made by the candidates responding to a series of questions with the words, ‘I do’ (the wedding service, by contrast, uses the words ‘I will’).

All of us change as the years go by, and by the grace of God at least some of those changes will bring us closer to Him, and closer to living the kind of life for which we are created. So as our choirs return, and we look forward to an exciting and packed September and October (with the wonderful ‘Threads of Creation’ installations, the arrival of a new Canon Chancellor and Vice Dean, and so much more – see the rest of these notices), I give thanks for the faithfulness of Christ to all of us. For even when our baptismal promises waver and falter, God never gives up on us. Christ’s commitment to his bride, the Church, and his identification with us in heart, body and mind, is not only lifelong but eternal.

With my prayers and good wishes,

Dean Anthony

Community News

Changes to Cathedral Opening from 12–14 September

The Cathedral is delighted to be hosting the annual CAFA Conference, the conference of over 100 delegates will take place in the Nave and to accommodate this there will be changes to our opening hours from 12–14 September.

Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer/Choral Evensong will take place in the Cathedral as regularly scheduled, but our midday service on Wednesday and private prayer during the day will move to Becket Hall during this period.

Specifically the Cathedral will be closed as follows:

• Tuesday (12 Sep) closed from 1pm–5pm and will reopen for Evensong.

• Wednesday (13 Sep) closed from 9:15am–5pm and will reopen for Evening Prayer.

• Thursday (14 Sep) closed from 9:15am until 1pm, reopening in time for Lunchtime Live.

A member of our team will be at the North Door during this period to guide people to Becket Hall whilst the Cathedral is closed. 

Portsmouth Cathedral's Gift Market Returns this November!

Are you ready for the most wonderful time of the year? After the resounding success of our Makers Market in May, we are thrilled to announce that Portsmouth Cathedral is bringing back the festive cheer with our Christmas Gift Market on Friday, 24 November and Saturday, 25 November.
 
Read more on our website →

Notice of Consultation 8 September to 10 October 2023

Portsmouth Cathedral is reviewing its Constitution and Statues as it prepares to come under the jurisdiction of the Charity Commission in addition to the Cathedrals Commissioners.
 
Read more on our website →

Lunch Club - come and join us for a veritable feast!

Lunch Club starts again on Monday 11 September at midday with food to delight. On the menu: salmon fillet or ham with a white wine & parsley sauce, vegetables & new potatoes, followed by a sumptuous dessert ~ all for just £5!
 
Read more on our website →

Creating the world in eight million stitches… Threads through Creation opens next week.

Daily until 15 October (see dates above for exceptions), Portsmouth Cathedral is playing host to ‘Threads through Creation’, a stunning exhibition of twelve enormous, embroidered silk panels that explore the story of Creation.
 
Inspired by the poetic verses of Genesis, the first book in the Bible, textile artist Jacqui Parkinson re-imagines this wonderful story in a vibrant combination of layers of silk, hand-dyed materials, metallic leathers and gold leaf, miles of thread – and more than eight million stitches!
 
The work is eye-catching and attractive, designed to be accessible for viewers of all ages. Whilst the serious message of God’s good earth and man’s impact on it underlies the entire exhibition, the panels are bold and exuberant, with many delightful quirky details such as both accurate and fanciful creatures embroidered into the stories.
 
Threads through Creation runs at Portsmouth Cathedral from 6th September to 15th October.

Sustainability September: Home Energy Audit

Tired of ever increasing energy bills?  Worried about the impact burning unnecessary fuels is having on the environment?  Well here is the opportunity, during Sustainability September, to take a practical look at our own energy use and finds ways to decrease our impact on the climate (and our energy bills).
 
Paper copies of the Energy Audit form are also available in the Welcome area or online.
 
Read more on our website →

Annual Warmth Survey: The Results

In heating the Cathedral, we work to ensure a comfortable environment for worshipper and visitor alike whilst making every effort to reduce our carbon emissions and heating bills.  All are important aspects of our work and witness.
 
Our first annual Warmth Survey conducted in 2022 asked you how it felt in the Cathedral and how the heating might be adjusted to lower our energy use (and bills).  In response to that survey, the Cathedral reduced the heating setting by 2 degrees to 16 degrees and delayed turning on the heating until 1 November. Both actions made a significant contribution to containing our energy bills in a very difficult market.
 
Read more on our website →

Lunch Club - come and join us for a veritable feast!

Lunch Club starts again on Monday 11 September at midday with food to delight. On the menu: salmon fillet or ham with a white wine & parsley sauce, vegetables & new potatoes, followed by a sumptuous dessert ~ all for just £5!
 
Read more on our website →

Food donations for Harvest Thanksgiving

This September, we will be joining with parishes across Portsmouth deanery, local community groups, schools and others during the Harvest thanksgiving season. Highlighting how we can all support those on the margins by donating with thankful hearts to the various Foodbanks etc, in our city. ‘With Thankful Hearts’ which has been running for the last three years, is based at St Mary’s Church, Portsea and is led by the Revd Canon Bob White, working with a number of churches and organisations in the city. You can find out more here. Donations can be made at any time of the year to any of the food banks listed, as well as at St Mary’s Church from 1 September until 2 October.
 
A Rowans Centre food bank can be found in the Cathedral cloister.

Friends of Portsmouth Cathedral

The Annual Meeting of the Friends will take place at 4:00pm on Sunday 24 September in Becket Hall.  The meeting will include the election of new members of the Friends’ Council and an update on Friends’ Projects and the
 
Members of the Friends are encouraged to confirm their attendance or send apologies online.
 
The Friends event planned for 3 October has been postponed until Saturday 21 October.  More details to follow. 

Installation of Canon Chancellor and Vice Dean

Our new Canon Chancellor and Vice Dean, Harriet Neale-Stevens, will be installed during Choral Evensong on Sunday 17 September.  All are welcome to join us but to assess numbers it would be helpful if members of the congregation could fill in the form here.

Read more about Harriet on our website →

Katie Spencer Concert at the Cathedral

 Experience the incredible musicianship of Katie Spencer in the unique setting of Portsmouth Cathedral.
 
Raised in the East Yorkshire flatlands on the fringes of Hull, Katie Spencer’s landscape has always been that of open skies and widening rivers. The song writing, and most notably her guitar playing stems from a time when the steel-stringed instrument was truly finding its voice. Artists like Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and perhaps most evidently Michael Chapman, flow into her sound, carrying with them the warmth and idealism of the early 70’s folk and songwriter movements. Katie Spencer’ widely celebrated new album, The Edge of the Land (2022), follows her debut release, Weather Beaten (2019) which was praised for its unique song-craft, spell-binding musicianship and crystal sonic clarity.
 
Having recently been a headline act at the Shrewsbury Folk Festival, this is a night not to be missed.

Out and About

Dean Anthony will be saying prayers at the Emergency Services Day Flag Raising Ceremony being held 9.00am Saturday 9 September at Guildhall Square.

On Sunday Canon Anthony will be at Swanmore at 10am and Canon Nick at St Aidan’s, Anchorage Park at 9am in the Ministry Team’s continuing support to parishes across the diocese.

Christmas around the corner…

Christmas Fair Donation - What's your favourite jam?

 We’ve been delighted to hear from some of you this week how your jam, jelly, pickle & chutney making is going… but more donations of jars are still needed.
 
Read more on our website →
 

Christmas Cards in the Shop

 We’ve had many requests from the Cathedral congregation, for Christmas cards to be available for purchase earlier in the autumn than we have done in previous years. These cards support the work of the Cathedral and the Friends of Portsmouth Cathedral and will be available for purchase in the Cathedral Shop starting 16 September.

Sustainability September Eco Tips

Did you know? Shopping for local produce can reduce road, air and sea miles and refrigeration costs for groceries. It also usually means more nutrition and tastier good, all whilst supporting the local economy.

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: Philip, Jack, Philip, Judith, Ian, Mathai, Nuno, Chris, Carol and all those in need.

We continue to pray for the long-term sick, including: Janet, Richard, Rachel, John, Graeme, Alistair, Beverley, Yvonne, Renee, Suzy, Sarah, Alison and Jill.

We remember those who have died: Emma Stanley, Peter Walker, Hilary Spurgeon (funeral at All Saints' Ryde Midday Friday 15 September), John Huffell, Paul Bass 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.

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