Cathedral Notices - 3 May 2026
A reflection from Canon Nick
In a world in which speed too often comes before reality, accuracy or compassion, it can feel as if immaturity is the norm, but it is one thing to lack maturity and quite another to seek to avoid it or to value immaturity instead. We live in a world of knee-jerk reactions and comment but our readings this Sunday challenge Christians to a more compassionate and carefully thought through approach.
The crowd impetuously stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr. They were so closed minded that they could not even envisage engaging with him and actually covered their ears. He simply prayed for them to be forgiven - what Christian maturity and care! Peter in his first letter talked about us growing from new-born infancy and ‘like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house’. Houses are not built overnight, at least not ones built of stone. They take time.
In the gospel, Jesus talked about the generosity of his Father’s house with its ‘many dwelling places’, and exhorted Philip to grow in his faith and understanding such that he would do even greater works.
The encouragement is for us to do the things necessary to grow in faith and maturity even though it takes time. Time is a necessary element. These things cannot be short-circuited or rushed. I am amongst those used to rushing everywhere, trying to fit too much in, and then bemoaning the lack of time to do it all. You may be better at this than me but the ability to step out of the rush, the headlong ‘busyness’ of daily life, is a necessary and important one. I am certainly still learning. This is not about holidays but about the need, daily even, to step out of one mode and into another which gives space and time for spiritual growth and development and allows God to speak to us.
Sometimes it helps to go somewhere else to do that. It might be that the Cathedral can help you find that space - perhaps coming to it when there are services or alternatively when there are not - and the space and the quiet can speak to our hearts instead. The important thing is not to close our ears but to find ways to open them and attune them not to almighty clanging of the world but to the wavelength of Almighty God.
The Reverend Canon Nick Ralph, Residentiary Canon Director of Social Enterprise and Engagement
Community News
Portsmouth 100: A Weekend of Music for the City's Centenary
The Cathedral Choir is pleased to play a full role in celebrating the city's centenary, including Vespers at St John's Cathedral and a Gala Concert at The Guildhall alongside 200 other singers and an Orchestra and Royal Marines Band of 75 players!
One hundred years ago, Portsmouth was granted city status. This May, we're helping to mark that milestone in the best way we know how, with music.
Portsmouth 100 is a weekend of celebratory events bringing together some of the city's finest musicians, choirs, and ensembles to mark a century of Portsmouth as a city. And we're delighted that Portsmouth Cathedral is right at the heart of it.
Annual Meetings - Thursday 14 May, 7:00pm
This year’s APCM and Parish Meeting will take place on Thursday, 14 May, at 7:00pm in Becket Hall following the Ascension Day Eucharist at 5:45pm.
The meetings include elections for Churchwardens and Deanery Synod representatives. Nomination forms are available in the Cathedral, and if you would like to know more about the roles, please speak to the Dean or one of the Canons.
The Cathedral’s Annual Report and Accounts, which were approved by the chapter on 22 April, will be available next week.
The Electoral Roll has now been published and is available in the Cathedral or through the Cathedral Offices.
Read more →
Beating the Bounds - Sunday 10 May
On Rogation Sunday following the 11:00am Sung Eucharist, we will walk the boundary of the Cathedral parish. This includes going along the seafront towards Clarence Pier and then through the city to the Guildhall.
We will pause to picnic also on the Guildhall Steps. After this we travel by train from Portsmouth and Southsea to Portsmouth Harbour, as the train track itself marks our parish boundary. Then we take the Gosport Ferry across the harbour and back – in recognition that the Cathedral parish boundary is on the Gosport side of the channel!
Contact Canon Jo for more information
Christian Aid Week: 10–16 May
Christian Aid is an international charity founded by churches in Britain and Ireland over 80 years ago. They work with partners and communities in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean to support people experiencing poverty and affected by humanitarian emergencies and climate change.
Christian Aid Big Breakfast: Sunday, 17 May
Join us at a Big Breakfast in the Nave between morning services on Sunday 17 May.
Top-up the Tower! Thanks for your support so far!
We're thrilled to share that thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we've already raised £1,520 towards the cost of repairing and redecorating our historic belfry, and we're so grateful to everyone who has contributed so far.
Our fundraising appeal is very much still open, and 2026 remains a rare and time-limited opportunity to complete this work affordably, so if you haven't yet had a chance to donate, there's still time to help us reach our goal.
As a timber structure, the belfry requires specialist maintenance and repair roughly every five to ten years to protect it from weather damage and decay — an essential cycle of care that preserves the structure and ensures the bells can continue to sound safely above the city.
Important Marmalade decisions... and only 218 nights to think!
A blog post from Rachael – our volunteer coordinator…
I was amused to see that marmalade had made national news, and not due to everyone’s favourite bear but because of the nuances of EU rules on the usage of the word 'marmalade'. In the German language, 'Marmelade' means 'jam', and as we know, jam comes in many delicious flavours. Our traditional marmalade only comes in one flavour – orange and most usually the bitter Seville orange. Now, though, we will see marmalades of many flavours, and if it happens to be made with oranges, it must be labelled ‘Seville Orange Marmalade' or 'Citrus Marmalade'. I wonder what Paddington thinks about that. How will you label your donation for the Jam & Preserves stall at this year’s Christmas Fair?
Seafood on the Green - Saturday, 4 July
Join us for a sit-down al fresco lunch for seafood lovers. Taking place on the green at Portsmouth Cathedral, join us for and enjoy freshly prepared, locally sourced dishes, including seafood paella & platters, pâtés and delicious desserts!
Sunday Refreshments
Do you enjoy a tea or coffee and chat after Sunday's 11am Eucharist? If so, could you help provide this much-appreciated service no more than once a month? If so, please speak to Sue Ward or any of our volunteers, or get in touch with Rachael, our volunteer coordinator. We would be very happy to hear from you!
Work with us…
Head of Finance
Portsmouth Cathedral is seeking an experienced finance professional to join its Senior Management Team as Head of Finance. This is a senior and wide-ranging role, combining strategic financial leadership with hands-on oversight of budgeting, forecasting, reporting, audit and compliance. You will advise Chapter on financial risk and sustainability, lead and develop our finance team, and drive improvements to systems and processes, including potentially establishing a new trading company.
Prayers & Intercessions
We pray for: Luca, to be baptised here on Sunday, and his Godparents and family.
We remember those for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Simon, Don, David, Ann, Marion, Gordon, Jean, Andrew, Tom, Wynne, Matthew, Paul, Pauline.
We continue to pray for the long-term sick, including: Mary, Phil, Nigel, Jill, Abbie, Martin, Colin, Richard, Hazel, Spencer, Karen, Jennifer, Carole, Davina, Mathai, Philip, Chris, Graeme, Alistair, Ralph, Lila, Lotti.
We remember those who have died recently, including: Gerald Wheeler, Marie Leafhead, Judith Bennett, Sylvia Thomas, Daphne Randle (Cathedral Memorial Service 2pm on Tuesday 19th May) RIP