A reflection from Revd Catherine

On Sunday morning some roads will be closed around the Cathedral for the Great South Run, but if you can get here on foot, we will be gathering outside the Cathedral to cheer on the participants as they whizz past in a blur of energy and determination. I always enjoy watching the race. I’m not a runner, but I love the celebration of life it represents and the creativity and diversity of approaches: people in fancy dress, those running for charities dear to their hearts or in memory of loved ones, some set on achieving their personal best time over the 10 miles, and others who simply want to get round the course in one piece!

And always there is a great atmosphere - so much positivity and goodwill towards the participants and a real sense of encouragement and support for those who might struggle to finish. All the participants are winners; however fast or slow their time, whatever they are wearing or carrying, everyone is accepted and encouraged, cheered on to keep going and complete the race.

There are so many echoes of the Christian journey. Here we are – running the race of faith together and all of us so different, living out our faith in our individual ways, and sometimes needing encouragement and support from each other to keep going.

So, while we might not be having a service at the time of the race, the celebration of life and creation will be before us in the street. See you at 10am!

New Bishop of Portsmouth announced!

We are delighted that Jonathan Frost, currently Dean of York and formerly Bishop of Southampton, has been appointed as the tenth bishop of Portsmouth.

Read more here →

Roberts Centre: family friends for Christmas

This Christmas, not every child will have a present to open, therefore the Roberts Centre have a fantastic scheme where you can buy presents for children, or a family based upon their interests and needs. Names, ages, likes, hobbies etc. will enable you to choose gifts and deliver them to the centre for distribution. This is such an easy way to help children and families faced with a hard winter.

What’s not to like about buying fluffy slippers and art materials for a six year-old who might otherwise have nothing from Father Christmas? If it seems daunting to do alone, think about joining forces with someone else as we do. All is given anonymously.

If you would like to contribute, please contact Tara.Couper@robertscentre.org.uk or phone her on 023 9229 6919 – thank you!

Lunch Club

We were delighted to welcome over 40 people at Lunch Club when it restarted last week. Lunch Club now meets every Friday at 12.30 pm in Becket Hall with a hot lunch, pudding, and tea / coffee provided for £5.00 and catered by the Duke of Buckingham pub.

If you would like to book in for lunch of volunteer to help, please contact Maureen through the Cathedral Offices.

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 →

2022 Budget – Approved and Received

Cathedral Council met on 6 October 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”

For details of our current staff and volunteer opportunities see our careers page for further information.

Cleaning products for the Roberts Centre

The Roberts Centre are in need of cleaning products, if you can help please leave any donations in the box in the Cathedral welcome area. Thank you.

COP26 Prayer Resources in the Cathedral

Ahead of the COP26 summit, there will be a display of prayer resources and other material for reflection in the Chapel of Healing and Reconciliation in the Cathedral for the next four weeks. Additional items will be added each week, highlighting the issues of climate change and the ways we can help preserve our environment, to focus our prayers for the world leaders who will attend the Glasgow summit between 31 October and 12 November.

Worship and Visiting

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.

Great South Run – Sunday, 17 October

There are changes to our regular services this week due the Great South Run. The Choral Eucharist will take place at 5:45pm instead of 11:00am. If you are joining us at 8:00am, please look at the road closures that will be in place.

For those who can join us on foot, we will be gathering at 10am on the corner of the High Street and Lombard Street to cheer on the runners as they come past the Cathedral. Special good wishes go to Ruth Charles who is participating in the race to raise money for the Fishermen’s Mission and Dawn Banting, Lead Chaplain at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust Portsmouth running for Portsmouth Hospitals’ Charity. Good luck to all those taking part!

All Souls

All Souls is an opportunity for us to remember and give thanks for those we love but see no more. This year there are two services...

On Sunday, 31 October, 5:45pm we will be holding a reflective Eucharist, with beautiful music, prayers and readings, we shall remember those who have died, especially during this past year. The music will include the lovely Requiem by Gabriel Fauré, sung by the Cathedral Consort. The names of the departed from the past year, and others who are being remembered, will be read out and everyone is invited to light a candle in memory of loved ones.

There will be another opportunity to remember the departed, on Tuesday, 2 November at 5:45pm, when the Cathedral Choir will sing the Duruflé Requiem. At this service, the names will not be read out aloud, but everyone will be invited to light a candle for those they have loved and name them before God as they do so.

This invitation is open to anyone who might find either of these services helpful, and if you know of others who would like to attend, please do let them know.

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, Andrew, Jean, Amanda, and all those in need.

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

We pray for those who have died recently: Ken Appleford, June Bryant, Audrey Taylor, George Williams and Peter Nichols RIP.

Upcoming Services & Events

Halabja: In the Golden Days | Daily 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 installed in the cathedral nave. 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 →

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). This week, we'll be looking at Ch. 4: 'Let there be lights in the sky'.

Join via Zoom

For security Zoom links are sent via email, sign up to our weekly Cathedral Notices newsletter to get them direct to your inbox.

The Adventures of Florence and the Mermaid’s Tears | Friday 25 October at 12:30pm

Join Florence, a local teenager, as she journeys with her mother to a remote island – home to the oldest albatross in the world – and discovers the beauty, diversity of nature there. Yet not everything is rosy...something is affecting the albatross population. What is it? And what can Florence do about it? Find out in this mini musical, suitable for all the family, which will be staged in the Cathedral nave.

Book a free ticket here →

Curating the exhibition 'Thomas Becket – Murder and making of a saint’ | Thursday 4 November 7:00pm in the Cathedral Nave.

This talk, arranged by the Friends of Portsmouth Cathedral, will provide an insight into the recent British Museum exhibition which told the story of Becket’s remarkable life, death and legacy, from his origins in London over 900 years ago up to attempts to obliterate his cult under the Tudors. Curator Dr Naomi Speakman will explore how this show brought Becket’s story to life and will delve into some of the highlight objects on display.

Friends of Portsmouth Cathedral £7.50, non-members £10,00.

Book a ticket online →

Thanksgiving for the life of Shirley Grayson-Smith RIP

There will be an opportunity during Choral Evensong at 5:45pm on Friday 12 November to join with Shirley's family and friends as we give thanks for her life and her contribution to the Cathedral. We continue to hold Ivor and her family in our prayers.

Christmas Fair | 4 December 2021

Led by Ann Wilson and a group of dedicated volunteers, the much-loved 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 email info@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.

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.