• Continued to offer daily worship to God with creative liturgy and wonderful music. 
• Delivered world class musical education to our choristers (24 boys and 24 girls) and over a thousand young people across our Diocese and region via Cathedral Sing;  
• Offered hugely appreciated services for (amongst other things) the Coronation of King Charles III, the Installation of Bishop Jonathan, and the 40^th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict, alongside annual occasions such as the Ordinations of Priests and Deacons, the Annual Seafarers Service, and many more;  
• Started Pompey Sundays attracting up to 50 people of all ages each week, including many children; 
• Renewed Pompey Tots (our parents, carers and toddlers group) with increasing numbers each week; 
• Created the Portsmouth Cathedral Institute providing a space in the public realm for debate and discussion; 
• Created a new vibrant brand identity clearly expressing to the wider world that we are a ‘beacon and safe haven, anchored in Jesus Christ’; 
• Provided a place for the community to gather following major national events, including the deaths of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; 
• Enabled growing partnerships, for example, with the City and this year’s Festival of Storytelling providing free summer activities and thereby responding to the cost of living crisis being felt by many families; 
• Appointed a part-time Learning and Schools Officer to develop our work with schools and families; 
• Invested in our property enabling us to decrease our carbon footprint by 55% since 2013;  
• Implemented a rigorous approach to managing our overall expenditure, and 
• So much more 

The financial support of the Cathedral community is the foundation upon which all this and more work besides can take place.  As a person who is already donating funds to support the mission of the Cathedral/As a person new to the Cathedral/ As a person not currently donating to the Cathedral using planned giving during the Season of Generosity, this letter is an invitation to reflect on your individual financial stewardship as an essential part of your overall Christian commitment. 

Over these last three Seasons of Generosity our congregational giving has increased significantly, reaching £100,000 for the first time (Our annual budget is £1.1million).  Our overall aim is to reach over £150,000 in planned giving each year.  But there is still a long way to go until we are a deficit free, financially sustainable cathedral, with the funds to achieve our Vision and Strategy as expressed in its six objectives and overall aim of being ‘a beacon and safe haven, anchored in Jesus Christ’ 

My wife and I regularly consider our own giving, both to the Cathedral and to charities and causes that are dear to our hearts.  Even in these testing times, we are always looking to increase our giving, and I invite you to consider doing the same.  I appreciate that we are living in a time of rising costs and inflation, but as that of course also affects the costs of running the Cathedral it would be incredibly helpful if you are able to increase/make a regular gift to our work, and return the enclosed pledge form. Every donation really matters and makes a difference to what we able to do in the service of Christ.  

Thank you so much.  
 
The Very Reverend Dr Anthony Cane 
Dean of Portsmouth

Congregational planned giving – the regular financial support of our Cathedral community

Commercial – income from trading such as the shop, events and venue hire, and rental income

Cathedral Sustainability Fund – grants to pay the salaries of the Head of Fundraising (vacent), Digital Marketing Manager, Events Manager, Visitor Experience Manager and Records Manager. These grants are time-limited and funding will begin to gradually expire from 2023 onwards

Church Commissioners – we receive a significant grant from the central church every year in recognition of the fact that Portsmouth Cathedral is a smaller cathedral with fewer resources than others

Fundraising – from grant-giving trusts and donations from individuals to support various aspects of our mission

In recent years, this gap (also called financial deficit) has been plugged by the Cathedral drawing down on our savings (also called reserves). This is an unsustainable way to run the Cathedral. Our savings are intended to help us pay for major fabric works to the Cathedral building in the future, and to act as a buffer in case of financial uncertainty. Instead, we have been using them for our day-to-day running costs. 

Exceptionally, in 2021 the funding gap was zero due to some large expenditure not taking place as expected and some income for 2022 being received early. Unfortunately, we currently anticipate a gap of £97,000 this year and for this gap to grow in the future as grant funding for key staff begins to conclude. 

We urgently need to increase income to plug this gap. 

This includes things like insurance, utilities and clergy housing. These costs do not include the stipends of our clergy team, as these are paid directly by the central church.
 

Since 2019 we have cut expenditure by 47% to help us weather the financial effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Any further cuts to our expenditure would risk our ability to fulfil our obligations as a Cathedral.

• Growing the number of visitors substantially through better marketing and more events and things for people to do at the Cathedral. More visitors will result in greater visitor donations and shop income
• Increasing income from our shop. New bespoke merchandise lines, initially funded from Government support, have been well received and we are planning to launch more new products this year
• Ensuring we make the most of our buildings, whether through more hiring of our spaces for events or through ensuring the limited properties we own and rent are run commercially

• Increasing our fundraising income, for example through promoting legacies and encouraging individuals and charitable trusts and foundations to support key projects
• Ensuring we continue to keep our spending low, whilst investing our limited income to grow the revenue streams described above

In previous years, congregational planned giving including Gift Aid, represented around 9% of our total income. Thank you to everyone who has made a new or increased regular gift recently.

The Church of England encourages Christians to follow the Biblical principle of tithing and to give away 10% of their income after tax – 5% to their church and 5% to other charitable organisations.

Financial giving is a spiritual practice through which we are drawn deeper into a relationship with our generous and loving God. We give not out of obligation, but as a joyful response to the inestimable gifts we have received from our Creator. By making a regular financial contribution to the Cathedral, we can all make a difference in the world and support the building of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

We know that we are living in difficult times, and everyone has different financial circumstances. Your value to God and as a member of our Cathedral community will never be affected by your ability to give financially.

Nevertheless, we ask that you prayerfully consider your financial support of Portsmouth Cathedral.

• If you do not currently support us regularly, please prayerfully consider if you are able to begin supporting our mission

• If you have not reviewed your level of giving for some years, please consider if you are able to more generously support us. The effects of inflation mean that regular donations set up several years ago have a smaller impact now
   
• If you want to see your generosity benefit the Cathedral beyond your lifetime, consider including a gift in your will

• • If half of those on the electoral roll were to increase their giving by £3 a week, the cost of a cup of coffee, we would raise an additional £22,000 per year
   
• If three quarters of those on the electoral roll were to increase their giving by £5 a week, the cost of a glass of wine or a sandwich, we would raise an additional £50,000 per year
   
• If every member of the electoral roll were to increase their giving by £10 a week, the cost of a trip to the cinema or lunch with a friend, we would more than double congregation planned giving and the Cathedral would have enough money to fund our mission and work