Portsmouth Cathedral

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Weekly Notices | Sunday, 9 October 2022

Portsmouth Cathedral

A reflection from David Price

We’ve just had a bit of a makeover to our kitchen at Cork House. If you’ve ever had work done on a kitchen you will know that the process permeates and invades every corner of the house. Innumerable items packed up and stored throughout the house. Breakfast kits on the landings, kettles, and coffee things in the corridor; mess everywhere. Kitty masterminded the project with our carpenter Sam (recommended by the way), the dogs were flummoxed but coped. I was insufferable. We seemingly lived in one room for ten days and my mojo was lost.

Get a Grip though David. There are plenty of people across this nation and in our world who bring up a family in one room; moreover, there are plenty on our streets who are homeless and destitute. This Sunday is designated at Homelessness Sunday, and we are asked to pause, think, and pray about what we can do to help. Many of our local community have reached out to Ukrainian refugees and last week’s special Harvest gifts for local foodbanks will have been well used – and is an on-going project for us all.

This Sunday is also International Chorister Sunday. RSCM International Chorister Day is a celebration of the amazing opportunities that being a chorister provides, at all levels from our great cathedrals to small parish churches. Becoming a chorister is the start of a lifelong journey. It means gaining singing skills and a musical education and inspires a love of choral music. It doesn’t mean that you will go on to become a professional musician – most choristers do not. But the skills you gain are valuable ones and transfer to a huge range of other disciplines and settings. For example, self-discipline, commitment, teamwork, organisational skills. It can also lead to not only a life-long love of music, but also to long-term friendships. Many ex-choristers who have gone on to be successful in a whole range of jobs can specifically point to the important part being part of a church choir played in getting them to where they are today.

Perhaps next year I need to organise a Chorister Sleep-out to highlight the plight of homelessness to our young people and in solidarity with those who sleep in the cathedral grounds most nights – who will join us?

Dr. David Price,
Organist & Master of the Choristers

Highlights this week…

Upcoming dates for your diary…

Community News

College of Canons - Autumn 2022 Update

The College of Canons met recently to receive the 2021 Financial Accounts and to hear reports on the many activities happening here at the Cathedral.

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Family Barn Dance Returns to the Cathedral

A welcome return of the annual Family Barn Dance in support of the Portsmouth Cathedral Choir Association (PCCA) takes place on Saturday, 15 October starting at 6:30pm in the Nave.

See more information and book online →

Volunteer at this year’s Cathedral Christmas Fair

The much-loved annual Cathedral Christmas Fair returns on Saturday, 10 December 2022, and we’re looking for volunteers to help support this annual event. Lots more details to come but please start saving (Jewellery, Children's Books, Toys & Clothes, China & Glass, unopened toiletries, and other bottled items) and making Christmas Cakes and Logs, Jams & Pickles!

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Upgrades to Becket Hall supported by Portsmouth City Council

On Saturday, 8 October 2022, there will be works in Cathedral House to install a Three Phase power supply to Becket Hall kitchen. This will supply a new cooker for the hall, which has been supported by funding from Portsmouth City Council.

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Step Up September – still time to sponsor Kitty!

Kitty Price walked 30 minutes every day in September to raise vital funds for The Trussell Trust, as they try to meet the increasing need for foodbanks this winter. Should you wish to contribute, donate online here, or pass cash to her or David. Thank you for your support.

Out and about in the Diocese

Dean Anthony was delighted to be the preacher last Saturday at St Mary’s, Fratton for a service to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ordination of the Very Revd Nicholas Frayling, former Dean of Chichester.

Coffee Morning – Tuesday 11 October

The Friends of Portsmouth Cathedral invite you to join them at a Coffee Morning to be held on Tuesday 11 October 11.00am-12.30pm in Becket Hall. Cost £5 per person. Proceeds in aid of Rowans Hospice.

St Thomas Ward Councillors' Advice Surgery

Second Wednesday of each month, from 5pm to 6pm, the councillors of St Thomas Ward will be running an advice surgery in the new meeting space in Cathedral House.

See more on their Facebook page →

Safeguarding update: PCR2 findings released

On Wednesday (5 October), the Church of England released the findings of an independent review of all national church and diocesan files, both physical and digital. The Past Case Review 2 (PCR2) reviewed these files to discover if there were any safeguarding concerns that were previous not known about or that were not handled properly.

Read more →

Help for Ukrainian Refugees

Our diocese is continuing to work as a partner with the charity Citizens UK to offer accommodation to refugees who are fleeing from the conflict in Ukraine. They were already running a project to sponsor refugees before the Ukrainian crisis, and have partners in Ukraine, Moldova and Poland who can identify refugees and organise transport to the UK.

If you would like to know more, visit the Diocese website or speak to Canon Nick Ralph.

Foodbank Donations

‘New to you’ The Roberts Centre is going to launch a ‘New to you’ project – which will include pots and pans, crockery, cutlery, household goods – not furniture (good enough that you would give them to someone you cared about). If we cut down the amount spent on essential bits and bobs that redirects outgoings to the basics like food and heating.

‘Layers’  - the Roberts is launching – children and young People - Layers. We have asked for coats for some years but since the advent of central heating we as a society have stopped wearing layers of clothing. We are potentially back to those days. Do you know people who might turn off their heating who might benefit from having more layers – given not charged for?

Toiletries – we are in need of Toiletries, can you help?


Please bring your donations to the Foodbank collection point in the Welcome Area during the Cathedral’s daily opening hours.

Worship and Visiting

Worship & 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.

Great South Run – Sunday, 16 August

Please note that due to road closures that will affect access to the Cathedral in the morning of Sunday 16 October, the 11am Eucharist will not be taking place, and will instead take place that evening at 5:45pm. The 8:00am Holy Communion will continue as usual, with #PompeySundays taking place outside cheering on runners from 9:30am.

#PompeySundays at Café Bleu this Sunday (9 October) and cheering for the Great South Run next Sunday (16 October)

This Sunday (9th October) #PompeySundays will be meeting at 9:30am, at Café Bleu in Southsea (18, Highland Road, PO4 9AH), as the Cathedral will be closed to prepare for the Royal Marines Band Service Memorial Service later that morning. We are grateful to the café for opening early for us: come along and try a different kind of café church!

The following Sunday (16 October), the roads will be closed for the Great South Run, so #PompeySundays invites you to come along at 10.30 am, meet outside the Cathedral, and cheer the runners with us. Our very own Matt Bradley and Ruth Charles will be running.

Ruth is running for the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, and you can sponsor her here.

Honorary Canon Sermon Series

The next in our sermon series will be Canon Peter Hall preaching on this Sunday (9 October) at 5:45pm. Peter is the Diocesan Director of Vocations and Ordinands.

Prayers and Intercessions

We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Richard, Alan, Amanda, Lucy, Jean, Tom, Beverley, Alistair, John, Nina, Pauline, Leo and all those in need.

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

We pray for those who have died recently: Vivienne McFarling, Yashwant Gunga, Barbara King and Sue Davis RIP.

Upcoming Services & Events

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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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