Weekly Notices | 2 November 2025

A Reflection by Canon Jo

With the clocks going back last weekend, it really feels like we are now in the depths of autumn and heading towards the year’s end. In the Christian calendar, of course, new year begins at Advent – a month or so before the secular new year.

And this final month of the Church’s year counts down towards Advent. We have the brightness of All Saints’ Day and All Saints’ Sunday, celebrated at the start of November since the eighth century when a chapel in St Peter’s Rome was dedicated to All Saints on 1 November. Before this, All Saints was kept soon after Pentecost, recognising how a continual stream of holiness flowed from the gift of the Holy Spirit, handed down through the centuries since the first apostles. We will have a said service of Holy Communion here on Saturday 1 November at 9:00am, followed by services on the morning of Sunday 2, giving thanks for All God’s Saints.

On Sunday 2 November at 5:45pm we have the opportunity to remember and give thanks for All Souls: celebrating those who have inspired us in a local and more intimate key, remembering particularly before God those we have known and loved. We join with others who have been bereaved recently as the Cathedral Choir (Girls) sing the much-loved Fauré Requiem, and there is a chance for everyone to light a candle to give thanks for those who have been a light in our lives.

On Sunday 9 November, after our Remembrance Sunday Matins in the morning starting at 10:50am, which will include the Two Minutes’ Silence, we have another evening Requiem. At 5:45pm, the Cathedral Choir (Boys) sing Durufle’s Requiem, giving us another opportunity to remember, corporately and individually, in the context of service and self-offering. As we honour lives given and taken away in war, we continue to pray for peace at this time for all God’s world.

The season of All Saints’ to Advent – or the Kingdom season as it is sometimes known - looks towards the promises of Christ’s reign of justice and eternal peace, when all will be gathered up in Christ’s everlasting Kingdom. The liturgical colour we use for this season is red – reminding us of the fire of the Spirit and the blood of sacrifice. The annual cycle of the Church year ends with the Feast of Christ the King on the Sunday before Advent. We have a foretaste in worship of the day when all creation will worship around Christ’s throne, and all earthly power will be overwhelmed by the power of eternal love.

A season to enter into fully and draw on for comfort, strength, inspiration and light.

Canon Jo Spreadbury,
Canon Precentor

Dates for your diary…

Yoga at the Cathedral – Saturday, 1 November at 10:30am
All Saints' Eucharist – Sunday, 2 November at 11:00am
All Souls' Remembering Service – Sunday, 2 November at 5:45pm
Parish Lunch Club – Monday, 3 November at 12:30pm
The Word is Near – Wednesday, 5 November at 10:15am
#PompeyTots – Wednesday, 5 November at 2:00pm
Lunchtime Live - Margot's Musicians – Thursday, 6 November at 1:10pm

Community News

Highlights not to miss this Christmas at Portsmouth Cathedral ✨

At Christmas in the Cathedral, we not only welcome our much-loved services, but also a wide array of events to help celebrate the festive season! From live performances and concerts to creative workshops and family favourites, there’s something for everyone to enjoy within our beautiful and historic setting. This year’s programme promises to fill the Cathedral with music, laughter, and festive cheer, the perfect way to embrace the spirit of Christmas.

This November, This Is My Theatre presents A Christmas Carol. Ebenezer Scrooge, a mean-spirited and miserly old man, is visited by the ghost of his business partner, Jacob Marley. Shown visions of Christmases Past, Present and Future, he is offered one final chance of redemption… but will he take it?

Make sure your home is looking its best with our Christmas Wreath Making Workshop, led by the Cathedral’s talented Flower Guild. Enjoy a relaxed, creative evening crafting your own wreath – perfect for adding a personal, handmade touch to your Christmas celebrations.

Be transported out of this world as Roger Sayer returns for Interstellar: Live in Concert. Following last year’s sell-out performance, this mesmerising event pairs Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed film with Hans Zimmer’s breathtaking score, performed live in the Cathedral.

Finally, delight in a family favourite with The Snowman Live, featuring the Solent Symphony Orchestra and our Cathedral choristers. This magical screening of Raymond Briggs’ classic tale promises festive joy for all ages.

There’s so much to see and do at Portsmouth Cathedral this Christmas. Pick up a brochure from selected outlets or from the Cathedral itself, we hope to see you there!

All of our services and events can be found here.

Tickets for these events can also be purchased from the Cathedral shop as well as online.

Our new Welcome Area

Come and see our new Welcome Area & City Centenary Exhibition from Saturday 22 November

Now that November is upon us, we're very pleased to announce that from Saturday 22 November, you'll be greeted by our new Welcome Area as you come into the Cathedral. This project, which has been funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and delivered in partnership with the Mary Rose Museum will see the shop move to the South Tower Transept, a custom-created welcome desk installed, and a brand-new heritage exhibition opened ready for the City's Centenary in 2026.

Visitors to the Cathedral on the 22 November will be amongst the first to experience the new space, and we're expecting visitors in their thousands as we also host the annual Love Southsea Christmas Market on the same day.

Why not come along and join us or do come into the Cathedral after the 22 November to see the new Welcome Area at your leisure.

Bishop Jonathan enters House of Lords

Bishop Jonathan was formally introduced to the upper chamber this morning. He presented his summons from HM the King and swore his oath before taking his seat on the benches with his fellow bishops.

He is now one of the Lords Spiritual, whose presence in Parliament reflects our constitutional arrangement, with an established Church of England and its Supreme Governor as monarch and Head of State.

You can read the full story here.

Who is the Bear at the Fair 🎄

The bare truth of it is that no one will know until Canon Harriet announces it at the Christmas Fair at 2:00pm. To win this adorable creature, knitted by our Choir Matron, Cheryll, you must first attend the fair and for £1 have a go at guessing his name. Will it be ‘Pawsicle’, ‘Eskibear’ or ‘Fluffy McFluff’ there are 50 names to choose from. If you can’t be there on the day, then you can still be in with a chance to win on the Christmas Raffle. Tickets are available in our Cathedral Gift Shop. For just a £1 raffle ticket you could win…

1st Prize: £100 John Lewis Voucher
Christmas Hamper
Book Lover’s Hamper
Pamper Hamper
Family Night in Hamper
Craft Hamper

Please get in touch if you can take some raffle tickets to sell to colleagues at work or to family and friends, every ticket sold helps the mission of our Cathedral Church.

Come along and enjoy the fun, thanks to our sponsor Nesbits Auctioneers & Appraisers we will be delighted by Dave from Chappers World of Balloons creating a fantastic array of treats from Santas and Snowmen to Candy Canes and Christmas Trees, entertaining those eager to see Santa and collect their special gift.

We’re collecting for both the Bottle Tombola and the Chocolate Tombola – so whether it’s a bottle of something lovely or a sweet treat, please consider donating. The week before the fair we will gratefully receive donations of jigsaw puzzles (complete, please!), good-quality fiction paperback books, children’s toys, glass & china, jewellery & scarves, as well as unused toiletries. All of which are a perfect way to pass things on for others to enjoy. If you can offer a bit of your time – whether on the day itself or in the run-up – I’d love to hear from you. Or if you are boiling fruit for Jams or icing a Christmas Cake do send in some pictures, please. There’s a role for everyone, and your help makes all the difference.

For Chocolate donations please pass on to the vergers. Bottle Tombola donations may be left with the verger or at the Cathedral Office for secure storage, other donations in the week before the fair.

Save the date - Portsmouth Cathedral Christmas Fair 11am Saturday 6 December followed by Carols on the Green at 5:45pm. All proceeds from the Christmas Fair support the work and mission of Portsmouth Cathedral. Free to enter, donations welcome.

Thank you for your support.

Cathedral, Council and Society of St James Partner to Offer Warmth and Hope This Winter

Portsmouth Cathedral is joining forces with Portsmouth City Council and the Society of St James (SSJ) to provide a warm, safe place for people experiencing homelessness this winter. From 27 October 2025 to 31 March 2026, the Cathedral’s Becket Hall will offer shelter and support for to up to twelve guests.

You can read the full story here.

Sustainable Church Flowers

As part of Portsmouth Cathedral’s commitment to consider new ways of widening our fairtrade aspirations and reducing the carbon and environmental footprint of our floral displays, our Chief Operating Officer, Zoë Colbeck, and members of the Flower Guild have recently attended events hosted by the Sustainable Church Flowers movement. Church flowers are in our worship and in our building to offer glory to God, however we don’t often think about the harm we are causing buying flowers from the developing world.

The events included the inspiring “Petals with a Purpose” evening at Guildford Cathedral which offered hands-on demonstrations and expert talks on how churches can embrace eco-friendly floristry.

The Sustainable Church Flowers initiative, founded in 2019 in Harpley, Worcestershire, encourages churches to rethink traditional flower arranging practices. It promotes the use of locally grown, seasonal blooms, foam-free mechanics, and biodegradable materials, all while honouring the spiritual and aesthetic role of flowers in worship.

Read more about Sustainable Church Flowers here.

We will be looking to do more in 2026 to ensure that we look for creative ways to use seasonal and more sustainable flowers. If you would like to help please contact the Cathedral Office.

Remembering Service for All Souls - 2 November

This reflective service with the Cathedral Choir (Girls) singing Faure's Requiem offers a beautiful opportunity to remember loved ones, light a candle for them and share in Communion if you wish. The names of those who have died in this past year for whom we have conducted the funeral or memorial (or a burial of ashes) will be read.

Remembering services at Portsmouth Cathedral

On Sunday 9 November, we gather for Matins for Remembrance at 10:50am, joining in prayer, hymns, and the national Two Minutes’ Silence as we honour those who have served. The day concludes with the Requiem for Remembrance at 5:45pm, featuring Duruflé’s moving Requiem and prayers for peace.

All are warmly welcome as we remember together those who have given so much.

Nicene Creed Update

Event Postponed - due to circumstances beyond our control, this course has unfortunately been postponed to the new year. Please follow our socials and weekly notices for details of the new dates for this course.

Meet the Dean - 16 November

Come and meet Dean Anthony, at the next regular opportunity for members of the Cathedral community to meet in the Bishop Kenneth Room after the morning Eucharist.

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.

Services this Sunday

8:00am – Holy Communion
9:30am – #PompeySundays
11:00am – All Saints' Eucharist
5:45pm – All Souls' Remembering Service
8:00pm – Taizé Worship

Prayers & Intercessions

We remember those for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Trevor, Angela, Richard, Abbie, Matthew, Hazel, Gina, Mark, Paul, Wynne, Saphie, Michael, Pauline, Susan, Karen, Jennifer, baby Lottie and baby Lily.

We continue to pray for the long-term sick, including: Carole, Davina, Ralph, Trudie, Marion, Stuart, Jill, Suzy, Chris, Graeme, Alistair, Philip, Mathai, Peter, George.

We remember those who have died recently, including: Michael Jackson ( Cathedral Funeral Service 10:30am on Monday 17 November), Sarah Chapman and Betty Baldwin RIP.