Weekly Notices | 21 September 2025

A Reflection by Canon Harriet

A new course started this week in our Exploring the Bible series – this time, exploring the Psalms. We are meeting on Tuesday evenings from 6:30pm – 7:45pm in Bishop Kenneth Room for 4 weeks and all are welcome to join.

The Psalms are an integral part of our worship and our faith – we hear a psalm sung every Sunday morning in our Choral Eucharist and daily at Evensong, and we recite the psalms quietly together at Morning Prayer.  Much of our liturgy, the words of our worship, is taken directly from the Psalms. When our Bible reading group, The Word is Near, meets on Wednesdays, we begin with a Psalm, using it to set the scene and the mood for our discussions.

Many of us will have favourite psalms as well, and perhaps we use them as part of our private prayers: The Lord is my shepherd…. I will lift up my eyes to the hills….Be still and know that I am God….  Psalms that fortify us and encourage us in our faith. 

There are parts of the Psalms however, that are not so edifying. They contain, at times, conflict and violence, cursing and blasphemy, anger directed towards God, hatred expressed towards human enemies. In short, the Psalms express every kind of human emotion there is. Nothing is sanitised or edited out here.

In this way, the Psalms give voice to our experience of being human. And they can also help us to express the feelings of others in our own prayers, bringing before God, through the words of the Psalms, the whole spectrum of human feeling, from suffering and despair, to praise and joy. These are prayers that Jesus himself would have been used to praying – in the synagogue, on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, perhaps in the quiet of his home and heart.

Perhaps you might like to use a Psalm in your own prayers this week, remembering that even if you don’t share the sentiments being expressed at the time of reading, you are sharing in the prayer and pain and praise of the whole world.

This Sunday at the Cathedral we are celebrating Harvest – but this year with a focus on the Harvest of the Sea. Do join us as we come together to give thanks for our seas and oceans, to pray for all whose livelihood depends upon them, and to remember the rich harvest they provide.


O Lord, how manifold are your works! 
In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
There is the sea, spread far and wide, 
and there move creatures beyond number, both small and great.
There go the ships, and there is that Leviathan which you have made to play in the deep.
(Psalm 104)
 

The Reverend Canon Harriet Neale-Stevens, 
Canon Chancellor and Vice Dean

Dates for your diary…

Community News 

INEQE Safeguarding Aduit


Portsmouth Cathedral, along with the Diocese of Portsmouth, has recently undergone a safeguarding audit by the independent organisation INEQE Safeguarding Group. The audit took place in June of this year as part of a national audit of all cathedrals and dioceses in the country. The report for the Diocese of Portsmouth and Portsmouth Cathedral has been published this week and you can view the report, a video statement from the Bishop of Portsmouth, and statements from both the Bishop and Dean of Portsmouth by following the link here.
 
Many of our cathedral staff, volunteers and members of the congregations took part in surveys and focus groups during the audit and we thank them for their contributions to this vital piece of work to ensure that our safeguarding policy and practice is always improving. 
 
Harriet Neale-Stevens,
Chapter Safeguarding Lead
 


Harvest Festival


At our Harvest Festival Services, we give thanks for 'all good gifts around us sent from heaven above.' In particular this year, as the Cathedral of the Sea we will have a special focus on the Harvest of the Sea.
 
Donations of Harvest goods as usual (not necessarily sea related!) are encouraged to support the work of the Roberts Centre and local foodbank.

The Harvest Festival is supported by the Thankful Hearts campaign - you can read more about it here.
 


‘Interstellar’ Live in Concert with Roger Sayer Returns - Early Bird Tickets Now On Sale!


Back by overwhelming demand after last year’s sell-out performance, ‘Interstellar’ Live in Concert with Roger Sayer returns to Portsmouth Cathedral this December. If you missed it in 2024 — or simply want to experience the magic all over again — now is your chance. But don’t wait too long: we’re expecting tickets to sell out once more.

For two weeks only, you can save up to 20% with our Early Bird offer. This special discount is available until Friday 3 October 2025, or while the limited allocation lasts (maximum of 4 tickets per customer)

We'll be once again joined by nternationally acclaimed organist Roger Sayer. As the original musical collaborator on Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, Roger’s performance shaped the film’s unforgettable soundtrack, created in partnership with Hans Zimmer. His playing carries the power, emotion, and depth that made the film so extraordinary.

At Portsmouth Cathedral, Roger will once again perform this iconic score live on our magnificent organ, accompanied by projected visuals that transport audiences into the cosmos.

🎟 Secure your tickets today and save with our Early Bird offer before they run out!

👉 Get your tickets here! Don't miss out.

 


Afghanistan Earthquake Appeal


Our local Christian Aid fundraiser has been in touch to encourage us as a Cathedral community to contribute to their emergency Afghanistan Earthquake Appeal.  Recently a 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck eastern and rural Afghanistan - and shook buildings from Kabul to Pakistan's capital Islamabad – and has killed more than 800 people.  Anything we can give will share hope with people in need, and ensure local responders can continue to support people who have lost their homes, livelihoods and loved ones.
 
Sue Ward, who does so much to promote the vital work of Christian Aid, has made Emergency Appeal envelopes available in the Cathedral.   We invite you to please support this appeal if you can, either via one of these envelopes, or perhaps even better by donating now via this link:
 
Donate to Christian Aid here
 

 

Welcome to new members of our Choir
 


Last Sunday we were pleased to welcome a number of new members to our choirs and to install existing choristers to new roles in the team
 
Well done to Alex, Olivia, Sam and Evelyn who were installed as Head Choristers; to Adam, Christopher and Erik promoted to Pro-Choristers. Welcome to our two new Lay Clerks, Dr Annika Lindskog and Mr Eliot Mead, to Michael our new Organ Scholar and to Jeremy, Alex, Henry and Sam as Choral Scholars.
 


Ride and Stride 2025


Thank you to everyone who came along to this years Ride and Stride, whether you walked or rode your bike we're grateful to those who took part!

If you're interested in participating next year, please email in here.
 


The Countdown begins: 400 Chocolatey Treats, 79 Days, 1 Fair

 

As well as helping to run stalls such as Cakes, Jam & Preserves, Chocolate Tombola, Books, Toys & Jigsaws and the Raffle among others, there are many tasks to complete before the day such as; wrapping of the Santa’s Grotto presents, sourcing raffle prizes, inventing new games for the children to try, labelling items for the tombola stalls and helping to promote the event, to name but a few!  Don’t forget that all the stalls rely on donations so please get stuck into making Cakes, Jams (Canon Jo has been making Damson Jam this year!), Preserves & Pickles or have a look around at home for unwanted Children’s toys, Paperback Fiction Books, Jigsaws, Homeware, Glass & China, Chocolate, Bottles of Spirits, Wine and Fizz, Jewellery & Scarves, as well as unused toiletries. 

You can read the full story here.

 


Installation of Honorary and Lay Canons – Sunday 21 September


We look forward to welcoming the friends and family of the Revd Dr Ian Meredith and Liz Simpson and Debbie Sutton who will be installed as an Honorary Canon and Lay Canons respectively on Sunday evening.  All are welcome to attend the service and reception in the Nave following the service.
 


Fairtrade Fortnight 22 Sept - 5 Oct


Portsmouth celebrates Fairtrade Fortnight with various events around the city. Here at the Cathedral our usual Fairtrade Breakfast will be held on Sunday 5 October, with tasty breakfast treats available to all at our three morning services. On 28 October a Fairtrade Wine and Cheese tasting Evening will be happening in Becket Hall. 

Tickets for Wine tasting evening can be found here.
 

More information about Fair Trade Fortnight can be found here.
 


Michaelmas Carol Service - 28 September


On Sunday 28 September at 5:45pm, we celebrate the presence and protection of St Michael and All Angels at our Michaelmas Carol Service. With special music and readings, we reflect on the ministry of the angels and all the unseen orders of creation who worship God with us. Singers from around the Diocese will be singing alongside our Cathedral Choir. 
 


Parish Lunch Club Restarts and Coffee with Anna

 

Coffee with Anna will run alongside our existing Parish Lunch Club filling some of the alternate weeks when the Lunch Club cannot run. Coffee with Anna will run from 11am to 12:30pm on selected Mondays in Becket Hall. Anyone is welcome to drop in for a warm drink and a chat.
 

The Parish Lunch Club restarts on Monday 15 September providing the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends following the Summer break, as our fantastic volunteers create and serve a delicious two course meal followed by tea or coffee. New members are welcome to join the Parish Lunch Club which runs fortnightly during term time on Mondays and provides a sociable occasion to catch up and meet new friends. Arrive in good time at Becket Hall for lunch which is served at 12.30pm.

The cost of a two-course hot lunch is £5. New member registration details are taken on arrival. No booking required except for Christmas Lunch. 
 

The autumn Anna Chaplaincy events will culminate with Coffee & Carols in the Cathedral on Monday 15 Dec at 11:00am followed by the final Parish Lunch Club - Christmas Lunch at 12:30pm.


Christmas carols and worship in an informal setting suitable for older people, including those with dementia. 

Our Parish Lunch Club dates are available to view here.

Our Coffee with Anna dates can be viewed here.
 

Christmas meal including turkey, all the trimmings, a glass of wine and a raffle. Existing members only. 

Exploring the Bible: The Psalms

 
Part of our series of courses exploring the Bible, come and delve into the Psalms and learn about their history, how they are used in worship and prayer, and why they are significant to Christians today. Tuesday evenings in the Bishop Kenneth Room at 6:30pm-8:00pm, taking place on 16, 23, 30 September and 7 October
 
Please email Canon Harriet if you would like to attend.

Worship & Visiting

Every day, Portsmouth Cathedral is open for worship, prayer, and visiting. Unless otherwise specified, services do not require booking. Our website contains orders of service, as well as information about visiting the Cathedral.

Prayers & Intercessions

We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Sarah, Mark, Paul, Wynne, Saphie, Michael, Trudie, Pauline, Davina, Susan, Karen, Abbie, Carole, Peter, Jennifer, George, Michael, baby Lottie and baby Lily.  

We continue to pray for the long-term sick, including:  Ralph, Marion, Stuart, Jill, Suzy, Richard, Graeme, Alistair, Chris, Mathai, Philip and Spencer.

We remember those who have died recently, including:  Maureen Smith, William Blake, John Maybury, Norman Chatfield and Anthea Hill 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 info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk or leave a message via phone on 023 9282 3300.

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