Highlights
I am not sure that anyone who knows anything about church structures and governance would describe either the electoral roll or elections to chapter as a highlight in anyway!
However I do want to draw your attention to the changes detailed in these notices to our Cathedral Chapter. In their simplest form the changes are that Chapter will now have:
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We have choristers progressing to the next stages within our Cathedral Choirs this week. Tonight Jacob, Rafferty, George, Thomas, Nick and Eli are receiving their medallions as Senior Choristers and Eddie receives his Chorister medallion. In addition, James Lomas will be installed as a new bass Lay Clerk – although he has been singing here in fact since October. Also, with the Cantate Choir tour to Iceland coming up at half-term from 19th to 24th February, two of our Choristers, Lily and Miranda, will have been installed and vested in their surplices at a Cantate Evensong in the week. The choristers arrive to rehearse at 8.00am on school days, some of them attending Cathedral services four times a week to sing.
Read MoreMusic and Mental Health
The beginnings of written-down music was within ancient Christian liturgy. This most beautiful of all music, plainsong or Gregorian chant is the foundation of all Western Music. With roots in the Jewish faith, it is a music idiom that transcends time and still inspires composers today who will weave its shape into contemporary works. And of course it is still sung world-wide within the church services in the Anglican and the Roman tradition.
Read More“Haunting, beautiful, very moving”: these are some of the words that a recent visitor to the latest arts installation at Portsmouth Cathedral had to say about local artist Pete Codling’s ‘Soup of Souls’.
The exhibition by Portsmouth based artist Pete Codling was created and inspired during an artist residency project in the summer of 2018 as part of the Portsmouth Cathedral Annual Theme for 2018: TIME.
Read MorePortsmouth, 26th January 2019
The Bishop of Portsmouth has appointed Canon Peter Leonard to be the next Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight.
Peter is currently Canon Chancellor at Portsmouth Cathedral, and has been acting dean there since the retirement of the Very Rev David Brindley last summer.
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According to the media, last Monday was Blue Monday, because it is the most miserable day of the year. The excitement of the festivities has worn off, pay day is still too far away and the bleak, wintry weather feels as though it is here for ever. Blue Monday itself is a construct by a travel company to encourage folks to book holidays in the sun to cheer themselves up. However, clever marketing aside, this time of year can be a struggle. Liturgically, we are still in the season of Christmas, but it doesn't often feel like it.
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I cannot but help feeling a sense of despair at the moment in regard to the state of British politics: the events in Westminster this week seem to present our country as a bit of a shambles. Too many in politics appear to put party interests and unity first, and refuse to properly govern and make decisions in the wider long term interests of the nation and for the welfare of society.
Read MoreThe Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally observed from the 18th to the 25th January. Portsmouth Cathedral will observe this event at our Sunday Eucharist on Sunday 20th January, 10.30am, with a sermon by The Revd Dr William Adam, Archbishop of Canterbury’s Ecumenical Adviser and Ecumenical Officer at the Council for Christian Unity.
Read MoreThe international concert pianist and recording artist Margaret Fingerhut is set to play a charity fundraiser at Portsmouth Cathedral on Monday 4th February at 7.30pm. The Portsmouth concert, arranged by ArtReach (the producer of Journeys Festival International), is part of the city’s latest bid to be formally recognised as a ‘City of Sanctuary’, joining other cities with the same title such as Plymouth, Bristol and Cheltenham, with almost 100 locations across the UK already recognised as a place of sanctuary.
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Last week was Epiphany Sunday. Magi from the East travelled to see this child whom they believed was worthy of their worship. The journey would have taken some time, the shepherds will have been long gone by the time these ‘wise’ men arrived. Journeys are interesting experiences. For most journeys we know the destination; we could be flying abroad for a holiday, driving to visit family over the Christmas period, sitting on a train commuting to work. We know where these journeys end, and hopefully we haven’t sat on the wrong train! Other journeys we might have an idea of where we want to arrive but can be unsure of exactly where. These can be more abstract; composing a piece of music or writing poetry. And then there are journeys where the destination is unknown. Life perhaps being the biggest one of this kind.
Read More“He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy” might not be the message you expect from Portsmouth Cathedral, but this January, following a bumper crop of Carol Services in December, Portsmouth Cathedral is swapping candles for candy and popcorn, and hymns for movie sound tracks.
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Epiphany is a significant period of celebration. It is associated with the wise men coming to visit the infant Jesus. Matthew’s gospel tells us that they were ‘wise men from the East’. As they were therefore not Jews, they represent the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles, to the non-Jews – to us! Light is always a significant symbol at Epiphany because it reminds us of the recognition of the light that had come into the world in the form of a baby.
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Away in a Manger…. the words of this traditional carol warms hearts as little children wearing dressing gowns and with tea towels on their heads presents an image of a warm and clean stable on a beautiful starlit night. In reality it would have been dark and smelly and filthy. The animals would not have been gazing adoringly but making unpleasant smells and noises. Mary would have been exhausted, Joseph bewildered. As for Jesus being woken by the lowing of cattle and not making a sound - he’d have screamed like every baby.
Read MoreChristmas for most families may be about time with family, Christmas Carol and Christmas services, and presents. But for many people and families here in Portsmouth, Christmas can be a difficult and lonely time.
One of the ways Portsmouth Cathedral is helping families this Christmas is through ‘Christmas Stars’. Any visitor can pick up a star ornament and write a message in memory of a loved one. The special tree in the Welcome area of the Cathedral can then be decorated with the star.
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Highlights
2018 has been the 300th anniversary of the ‘opening’ of the Organ which will play such an essential part in our worship and services over the coming days.
The tercentenary was commemorated by David Price with an organ recital in July. Since then Jo Godfree, our Archivist, has discovered the Vicar’s sermon of 26th July 1718 when the organ was first played. I offer some extracts as a timely anticipation of how our Cathedral organ and Choirs and music will lift our hearts and souls as we join in singing carols and celebrating the Birth of our Saviour.
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It’s only the Second Sunday of Advent, but already our choirs have sung four Carol Services including a service for The Hampshire and IoW Emergency Services and The Second Sea Lord’s Carol Service on board HMS Victory.
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This time of year can be a bit of a struggle with darkness. In order to function normally, we have to fight our instinct to hibernate. However, I wish to highlight the importance of rest and reflection, particularly during Advent. We are tasked with waiting and watching in the darkness for the light, thinking about the impact of God breaking through into human history and being born in a manger.
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This last Sunday of the year - before the new Church year starts next week – was sometimes known as ‘Stir up Sunday.’ The Book of Common Prayer collect for today, which we still use as the post-Communion prayer, begins ‘Stir up, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people…’ This image led to the idea that this week was when people should be stirring their Christmas pudding mix, or baking their Christmas cakes, to give them plenty of time to mature and improve before the Christmas feast. We hope this week many of you will be baking cakes and making sweets and looking out your contributions for our Christmas Fair next Saturday!
Read MorePortsmouth Cathedral has launched a new campaign to help families by offering a unique way of remembering a loved one who lit up their lives, by lighting up the Cathedral Tower on the day of your choice. Birthdays, anniversaries of a death, can be a tough and poignant time for many. Often, families want to mark that time quietly on their own, or perhaps might visit a grave or cemetery, and bring flowers and share memories.
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