Cathedral Notices - 17 May 2026
A reflection from Canon Harriet
This Sunday sits between Ascension Day (which we marked on Thursday) and Pentecost, which we will celebrate next Sunday. And these days in between are set aside in the church’s year as a little mini-season of expectant prayer as we await the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, like the very first disciples.
Jesus has ascended to the Father, in glory, and in doing so he takes all humanity with him to God – raising us to the heights of heaven. In the 4th Century, St Athanasius, one of the early Church Fathers, wrote “the Son of God became man so that we might become God.” It’s a statement can strike as rather alarming! Afterall, when Adam and Eve ate the apple from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, desirous to be like God, it was their downfall, not their moment of glory.
So what did Athanasius mean? Rather than humanity literally becoming God, he was suggesting that through our relationship with Jesus, through our identification with Jesus, through the way in which live out the pattern of his life in our own lives, we become united with him, and are called to share in his divine life, in the divine love that he shares with God the father.
This mini-season of prayer and expectancy, often called the season of “Thy Kingdom Come” is an exciting one, as we acknowledge that we long to be a part of the divine love shared between the Father and the Son, and also wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit, the helper and enabler, which Jesus promised he would send, once he had returned to his Father in heaven.
Traditionally, in this season, as we wait, we pray and sing an ancient hymn: Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, and lighten with celestial fire. Or in another translation: Creator Spirit, Lord of grace, come, make in us your dwelling place. Like the waiting and longing that comes in the season of Advent, the act of waiting for the Holy Spirit has also inspired much poetry and music.
The nun and poet, Jessica Powers, wrote movingly of the work of the Spirit in one of her prayer-poems entitled, The Spirit’s Name:
Oh give him then that title which will place
His unpredictable breath upon your face:
O Dove, O Flame, O Water, Wind and Cloud!
(And here the creature wings go veering higher)
O love that lifts us wholly into God!
O Deifier.
The Reverend Canon Harriet Neale-Stevens - Canon Chancellor and Vice Dean
Community News
Half-Term Family Activities - Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 May
Join us for family activities in the Cathedral. Take part in some craft activities linked to our Portsmouth Cathedral Children’s Activity Book. Follow a trail around the cathedral to find Sammy the seagull, create a mosaic tile or design a shield. Drop in – no booking required. Free admission, sessions run from 10:00am to 12:00pm, and 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
Christian Aid Week Big Breakfast - Sunday 17 May
Thank you to all those who have already contributed to this year’s vital appeal.
This Sunday please join us in the Nave between the morning services at a Christian Aid Big Breakfast and learn more about the the charity’s work.
Cathedral Clean - this Saturday!
Could you help to keep our Cathedral looking beautiful? We are planning a Cathedral Spring Clean on Saturday, 16 May from 9:30-11:30am. No experience is needed, just a deep love of our Cathedral and a wish to make it look cared for and welcoming in time for the Easter Services.
If you can join us and make a difference, please contact Rachael at volunteer@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk or sign up on the sheet in the Welcome Area
Annual Meetings and Results of Elections
Our Annual Meetings were held on Thursday. Dean Anthony gave a report on the year’s activity and there were reports on: Safeguarding by Canon Harriet; Deanery Synod by Clive Arthurs and the Electoral Roll by Cathryn Moult. The meeting recieved the Annual Accounts which were presented by the Chief Operating Officer, Zoë Colbeck.
Sheila Picton and Ronald Rabbetts were elected to serve as our Churchwardens for the coming year and Clive Arthurs, Alasdair von Claasen and Emma Lyddon as Deanery Synod Representatives. We thank them all for offering to serve in these important roles.
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.
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. Closing date for applications: Wednesday 20 May.
Friends of Portsmouth Cathedral
The Friends host a number of events throughout the year for members and non-members alike. The next event is a Coffee Morning on Monday 8 June from 11:00am in the Nave. Our guest speaker will be the Cathedral’s Learning and Schools Officer, Diana Hutchins, who will talk about the educational and learning experiences for children offered by the Cathedral. All welcome.
Read more about the work of the Friends and membership →
City Service Eucharist - Sunday 31 May
We look forward to welcoming the new Lord Mayor, City Councillors and representatives of the life of the City to the annual service at 11:00am which is being held this year on Trinity Sunday. All are welcome as we continue to celebrate Portsmouth 100.
Prayers & Intercessions
We pray for: the work of Christian Aid throughout the world.
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, Sylvia.
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, Sam Samji, Edward Stanley, Marie Leafhead, Judith Bennett, Daphne Randle (Cathedral Memorial Service 2.00pm on Tuesday 19 May), Ron Silverthorn, Annabel Benton RIP.