A reflection from Kitty Price

 
It’s all change at this time in the academic year, and as such it is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster; excitement for the end of term, with holidays and other activities to look forward to, and wishing leavers farewell as they head off to their next adventures, be it a different year group, school, college or university, travelling or a new job.
 
By Thursday 7th July, we will have said farewell to this year’s choral scholars and organ scholar, as well as some choristers. To them I say thank you. Being part of a cathedral choir broadens your horizons, musically, physically, and spiritually. Music helps us to express our emotions, whether as performer or audience. Without knowing it, your musical commitment will have comforted a grieving soul, inspired a rejoicing soul; made somebody feel less lonely, helped another person to feel the presence of God in their lives.
 
The commitment to be a chorister is only possible with the commitment of their families. Fortunately, as shown by the numbers in the choir, the sacrifices, such as earlier starts, weekend and holiday commitments are deemed worth the sacrifice. Choir families bring more than their children to Cathedral life; the Choir Association put on another very successful Seafood on the Green last weekend. Rachel, Susan, and Sarah were recently named as the tremendous trio who have taken on the task of resurrecting Cathedral Lunch Club. They are chorister parents, and they are essential to this part of the Cathedral’s ministry. Sarah was confirmed recently, with her chorister daughter Stephanie, as her sponsor. Along with six of the boy choristers, one of this year’s choral scholars was baptised and confirmed by Bishop Jonathan at Easter and that was a very special occasion. This Saturday sees the ordination of seven people to the priesthood and six people as deacons. One of the deacons, Amanda, came to faith after her son joined the Cathedral Choir. Music gives so much and invites the recipient to give back in return, especially when it is music of faith.
 
I am writing this on Tuesday after a stunning performance of Philip Moore’s ‘All wisdom cometh from the Lord’. In my eyes, ears, and heart it is difficult to beat this piece because it explores the complex nature of the human condition, ending with some stunning plainsong sung over the lower voices. Next week sees a recording for BBC Radio 4 ‘Sunday Worship’, and a live broadcast of choral evensong at 1600 on Wednesday on BBC Radio 3. Not only is it a fine way to round off the choir year, but it is a way of bringing live worship and witness to people all over the globe.
 
In March I wrote a bit about what it was like to live in a clergy household, particularly a bishop’s household. It seems a fitting way to bring this piece to an end by saying a bit about being involved in the musical life of this place as wife of David. He is coming to the end of his 25th year of serving at Portsmouth Cathedral. I know I am biased – though I also live with him so I could tell you a thing or two, but I won’t! – but it has been and still is a privilege to support his musical vocation. Hundreds of choristers, scholars, lay clerks and organists later, he is still pushing himself and others to give their best to God.
 
There is a bittersweet element to this life, though. We are always the ones who are left behind when leavers head off on their next adventures. It can be tough saying goodbye year after year. But the flip side is that we get to say hello to new people and welcome them into the fold. One of my sayings is ‘Once a Pompey gapper, always a Pompey gapper’, and this is shown by how many of them return and do so frequently. Indeed, at half term I was in Venice with some of our former gappers. Portsmouth Cathedral draws people back, and that includes Ian Griffiths, who has returned this week to the team of vergers. Welcome home to you and Chris!!
 
The last two lines of Psalm 150: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” This is our joyful task until, in the words of the hymn ‘How shall I sing that majesty?’, “Then shall I sing and bear a part with that celestial choir.” It’s not a bad way to spend eternity.
 
Kitty Price,
Lay Reader

Highlights this week…

• Paint back the Past – all weekend

• Patronal Festival with the Dean of Winchester as guest preacher– Sunday, 11:00am

• Holy Communion back in the St. Thomas’s Chapel – from Sunday, 8:00am

• Portsmouth Cathedral Institute – Monday, 7:30pm

• BBC Radio 3 Choral Evensong – Wednesday, 4pm

• Final service of the Choir term – Thursday, 5:45pm

Paint back the Past this weekend part of Ports Fest Celebrations

This weekend we welcome all to step back in time and explore a reimagined version of Old Portsmouth, with Paint back the Past. Taking place as part of Ports Fest 2022, this community art project has brought together community groups to create their own reimagined shop fronts of days gone by.

We’d like to say a special thank you to all those involved, including Portsmouth & Hampshire Art Society, congregants of #PompeySundays, Portsmouth Cathedral Choir, and 12th Portsmouth Cathedral Brownies.

You can see the pieces on display until this Sunday outside the Cathedral, or pop along daily from 1-3pm for hands on activities where you can get involved and add your own flourishes!

Find out more →

Choir Farewells

As we come to the close of another academic year, we bid farewell to a number of our choir members. This year has been a exceptionally formative one for our choirs, as we seek to recover so much lost ground and musical memory post-Lockdowns and our senior boy and girl choristers have been key to that recovery alongside our Gap Year team.

Read more →

Upcoming BBC Broadcasts and Special Evensongs

Next week the Cathedral will be hosting the BBC for a recorded Radio 4 Sunday Service and a live Radio 3 Choral Evensong. On Tuesday evening our Cathedral Choir (Girls) will be recording a BBC Radio 4 Sunday Worship programme to be broadcast on Sea Sunday (10 July), with the Chaplain of The Fleet preaching.
Following this on on Wednesday the Cathedral Choir (Boys) will be broadcasting Choral Evensong live from 4pm on BBC Radio 3. If you wish to be in the congregation, please arrive before 3.45pm as the cathedral will be closed for the 4pm broadcast.
See an overview of these upcoming services on our website →

Out and About

Canon Anthony will be representing the Cathedral at the Remembering Srebrenica Flag Raising, organised by Portsmouth City Council, on Guildhall Square on Friday 8 July at 11.00amPortsmouth City Council Flag Raising to commemorate the July 1995 genocidal killing of more than 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys in and around the town of Srebrenica, Bosnia.

The Wild Cathedral: Starting to Grow!

Preparations for The Wild Cathedral are underway, our exciting summer project that will create a sensory garden experience in the Cathedral from Tuesday, 16 August to Sunday, 4 September. To help the Cathedral blossom this Summer, we are looking for donations of plant pots and gardening materials, as well as cuttings of herbs or plants that can be used in the garden.

We’re also calling all for ‘green-thumbed’ volunteers to help us look after the plants in the run-up to the installation of the garden, and those willing to help us keep things watered and cared for the during the duration of the event.

Find out how to get involved on our website →

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.

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. Following a recent delivery of your donations, the Roberts Centre have suggested the following as being as most needed:

• Cereals

• Long-life or powdered milk

• Tinned food eg. veg, meat, meals

• Nappies

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.

Patronal Festival – this Sunday (3 July)

This Sunday we are celebrating our Patronal Festival, as we remember our Patron Saint Thomas of Canterbury (Thomas Becket). This is celebrated on the Sunday nearest his translation at Canterbury (7 July 1220), 50 years after his martyrdom.

We are delighted that the Dean of Winchester, The Very Revd Catherine Ogle, is our preacher. This year’s Patronal Festival also coincides with the last Sunday of the Choir Year. In the morning the choir will be singing Roxanna Panufnik's 'Westminster Mass' and Nico Muhly's 'Hymnus martyrum' (composed for us in 2021). The Cathedral Choir will sing another piece commissioned in 2021, in honour of Saint Thomas Becket.

Sunday Holy Communion returns to St. Thomas's Chapel from this Sunday (3 July)

We are pleased to announce that the 8:00am Sunday Holy Communion, will return to St. Thomas's Chapel as of this Sunday, (3 July). The distribution of communion will remain in the same format as it has been while the service has been in the Nave.

Prayers and Intercessions

We pray for those preparing for ordinations: Emma Andersen, Fran Carabott, Jill Kingston, Liz Quinn, Amanda Sim, Beth Yeandle, Derek Johnston, Kate Lloyd-Jones, Tony Lawrence, Katherine Message, Heath Monaghan, Rajiv Sidhu and Alison Waterhouse.

We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Tom, Beverley, Richard, Jane, Alan, Amanda, Derek, Lucy, Martin, Jean, Alan, Rita, Graeme, Joan, John, and all those in need.

Long-term sick including: Alison, Clifford, Christopher, Johnny, Jane, Melissa, Suzy, Bob, Sarah, Izzy, Libby, Andrew, Peter, and Rachel.

We pray for those who have died recently: Matthew Jackson, Denise Goppelt and Canon Alan Wilkinson (Chichester Cathedral Funeral 12 July at 11am) 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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