Weekly Notices | Sunday, 2 January 2022
A New Year’s reflection from David Price
This Advent past, Portsmouth Cathedral Choirs were invited to contribute to an Advent Calendar for the Cathedral Music Trust. We were 17th December, a wise choice for the Advent antiphon O sapientia, O wisdom. If you look at the Advent calendar, the doors are the doors into the various cathedrals. You clicked on a door to hear our Boy Choristers and Men sing the magnificent arrangement of Gaudete by our former organ scholar Luke Fitzgerald. Day 17 (cathedralmusictrust.org.uk)
Another carol with doors associated with it is A New Year Carol, made famous by the arrangement of Benjamin Britten. Its origin is thought to be in Wales, which resonates nicely with me because of my Welsh heritage. Children would sing the song whilst sprinkling people with fresh water from the well. In the Scottish tradition it was sung as houses were sprinkled with new water to purify them at the start of a new year. The lines that are particularly appropriate are “Open you the West Door, and turn the Old Year go” and “Open you the East Door, and let the New Year in.” Our Girl Choristers are singing this at Evensong on Thursday 13 January.
We now find ourselves at the start of another calendar year. January, from the Latin ianua, meaning door, opens the year up for us. We have no choice but to walk through the door as the previous year shuts behind us. This can be painful but also liberating. We have different doors to walk through in the course of our lives, and some will be easier than others.
Music opens doors to a myriad experiences for those who listen or perform. It transports you into different eras, cultures and faiths as well as providing social and academic growth for children who participate in music. Countless times former choristers attribute their ability to speak in public, lead, collaborate and show empathy to their formative years in one of our choirs. You can catch some more from our choirs in the cathedral’s 12 Days of Christmas series.
I hope that 2022 brings you an abundance of music, and as much live music as possible. As we journey into another year, I hope the musical ministry of our choirs can help you walk confidently through those doors.
A New Year Carol
Here we bring new water from the well so clear,
For to worship God with, this happy New Year.
Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine;
The seven bright gold wires and the bugles that do shine.
Sing reign of Fair Maid, with gold upon her toe,
Open you the West Door, and turn the Old Year go.
Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine;
The seven bright gold wires and the bugles that do shine.
Sing reign of Fair Maid, with gold upon her chin,
Open you the East Door, and let the New Year in.
Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine;
The seven bright gold wires and the bugles that do shine.
Changes to Saturday services
We are pleased to announce that our popular evening Taizé-style services will resume in the new year for a trial period. The first two dates of these monthly reflective services of Taizé songs, chants and prayer will be Saturday 29 January and Saturday 26 February. In a change to the previous pattern, these services will now take place on Saturday evenings at 5:45pm.
During the trial, we’ll be offering a mixture of opportunities to join us for prayer and praise on Saturdays from January to April. Our ‘Cathedral Quiet Hours’ at 5:45pm will sometimes be Taizé, some Organ Meditations as well as occasional Evensongs led by our own choirs or Visiting Choirs. Do come and join us in our holy space for short moments of reflection and meditation.
Alongside this trial period, the Cathedral is also developing new events and experiences. During the trial period the Senior Management Team of the Dean, Canons Jo and Kathryn and the Chief Operating Officer will review the best fit moving forward.
See more on our website →
Living in Love and Faith
Along with the rest of the Church of England, our Diocese is currently holding conversations relating to gender, marriage, sexuality, and relationships, under the heading 'Living in Love and Faith'. The aim of these conversations[for 9 Jan - as mentioned in Canon Kathryn's reflection]is to create brave, safe, supportive spaces in which we can explore together the theology and ethics involved. The conversations for our Deanery are being run at the Cathedral (we hope, in person) at 7 pm on Thursdays, starting on 20 January and running for five sessions with a break on 17 February. For more information, please see our diocesan LLF page: Living in Love and Faith - Diocese of Portsmouth (anglican.org)and the national LLF page, which contains links to a vast array of resources through the LLF Learning Hub, which is free to join and open to everyone: Living in Love and Faith | The Church of England
To reserve a place on the deanery course, please contact Canon Kathryn.
The 12 Days of Christmas
After the popularity of last year, celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas with Portsmouth Cathedral in a series of videos to mark the festive season. Join members of the ministry team sharing festive reflections, alongside music from our Cathedral Choirs and fascinating insights into the heritage of Portsmouth Cathedral.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as we share a video every day from Christmas Day through to 5 January.
See the full series on our YouTube →
Cathedral Offices closed for Christmas
The office will be closed on Monday 3 January and operate with a much reduced number of staff for the remainder of that week. Due to Covid precautions staff will continue to work from home when possible. Please email info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk or telephone 023 9282 3300 and leave a message as these will be monitored over the holiday period.
Thank you for your patience.
Explore more about Portsmouth Cathedral this Christmas
The Portsmouth Cathedral online app is full to the brim with insightful history and interactive experiences. As well as our cathedral highlights tour you’ll find family friendly tours such as the bite-to-eat tour and our brand-new virtual reality experience showing you what the cathedral might have looked like with a different design. As well as this, check back throughout the Christmas holidays for more family friendly tours you can do for free when visiting the cathedral. You’ll also find our 12 Days of Christmas series published here first from the 25 December.
Christmas Opening Hours
We look forward to welcoming you to the Cathedral during the Christmas holidays, please be aware of our adjusted opening hours during this period.
Cathedral
Saturday, 27 December 2021 until Saturday, 1 January 2022 – 10:00am - 3:00pm
Saturday, 2 January 2022 – Open for services and until 12:45pm
Saturday, 3 January 2022 – Back to normal opening times.
Cathedral Shop
Closed Saturday, 25 December 2021 until Tuesday, 4 January 2022
Wednesday, 5 January 2022 – Open again from 10:00am
Worship and Visiting
Portsmouth Cathedral is open daily for prayer, services and visiting. Booking is no longer required for services, unless otherwise indicated. You can find out more on our website , where you can also download orders of service.
We continue to take every precaution to reduce the spread of coronavirus. It is now mandatory to wear a face covering inside the Cathedral, including when singing as part of the congregation, unless you are medically exempt. Please also continue to check in with the NHS Covid-19 app and remaining at a safe distance from other groups. Further information can be found on our Covid-19 information page.
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.