Cathedral Notices - 5 July 2026
A reflection from David Price
The Choir Year is drawing to a close, but please pick up a Summer Choir Newsletter and read for news of recent projects we’ve been involved with from a Tour to Normandy for DDay82, our new ‘A Year in Portsmouth’ album, two BBC Radio broadcasts, Seafarers Sunday, singing at St Matthew’s Blackmoor and future plans for a new Choir Church Project there.
As at the end of every choir year, we shall be bidding farewell to Head Choristers Sam and Alex as their time comes to an end in choir as Trebles – but we know they will be back. If you missed their Evensong sermon last month you missed a beautiful exposition of the readings of the day from Sam and a moving testimony on our D-Day trip from Alex.
As previously announced, Lay Clerk Alex Wallace moves to Chichester Cathedral Choir next term and we shall miss his musicianship deeply. Our Scholars Jeremy, Alex, Henry, Sam and Organ Scholar Michael have excelled themselves in so many ways in their year with us—singing superbly in choir as well as some brilliant solo work.
We are pleased to announce that our new album for Regent Records ‘A Year in Portsmouth’ is now available from The Shop and all streaming platforms from 12th July. The music recorded is a great snapshot of the musical and liturgical year here in Portsmouth with some beautiful singing from our musicians of works like Rutter’s setting of Psalm 27 and Grieg’s Ave Maris stella.
We’re looking forward to marking the centenary of the cathedral and diocese in 2027, but in the meantime we look forward to the launch of our Fortnum & Mason Advent Calendar, the 20th Anniversary of the Girls’ Choir, and all the build up to Advent and Christmas including a tour to Hanover. 2027 will include our fourth Early Music Festival, a trip to sing Evensong at Westminster Abbey, our centenary service with the Archbishop of Canterbury, our next Radio 3 broadcast and a Tour to Hungary.
This end of choir reflection marks the completion of my 30th year in Portsmouth as Organist and Master of the Choristers. I’m grateful to work in a place that has enabled continual growth and development, offered flexibility alongside tradition and is quite simply one of the most wonderful buildings in which to make music and worship in the Church of England.
Dr David Price,
Organist & Master of the Choristers
Community News
Ordinations 2026
Our ordination services took place last Saturday, where our Bishop commissions those who are set apart to be members of the clergy. The Bishop lays his hands on those who have been discerned, trained and presented, with prayer for the gifts of the Holy Spirit and for the grace required for ministry as Deacons or Priests.
You can rewatch the live streams on our YouTube channel here.
Diocesan Leavers Days and Services
Here at the Cathedral this week, we have been hosting the Diocesan Leavers Days and Services, with 32 schools taking part and over 1300 children attending. The Leavers Days and Services are an opportunity for Year 6 pupils from Church of England Schools across the diocese to come together to celebrate their time in primary school, to reflect on their journey and begin to look ahead to the challenges of secondary school.
The theme of the week has been “Bags of Hope” focussing on the theme of "Displaced Persons," exploring the challenges faced by migrants and refugees from diverse backgrounds and countries. Inspired by the book The Suitcase by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros, the project highlights the significance of a backpack for those seeking safety and hope amidst loss and displacement. In preparation for the week, each child wrote an A5 luggage label with a prayer, poem or quote on it, these were then added to a Cathedral Art Installation. Schools were also invited to buy and donate a backpack and/or a cuddly Paddington Bear which will passed on to displaced children.
The workshops and services have been organised by the Diocesan Education Team in conjunction with the Cathedral. Our team of Learning Volunteers have been leading the workshops, and our thanks go to all of them for their enthusiasm, hard work and dedication.
It has been a wonderful week!
Diana - Learning and Schools Officer
Young Virtuosic German Organist to play here
Jan Liebermann is the new kid on the organ block. He comes to us from Mainz Conservatoire, Germany to play here on Friday 31 July at 7.30pm. He will play a programme of Bach, Widor, Mendelssohn and Vierne.
Do not miss this young, charismatic player who performs all his music from memory!
BBC Radio 4 Morning Worship for Sea Sunday
A reminder to tune into BBC Radio 4 at 8:10am on Sunday, 12 July for our Act of Worship marking Sea Sunday. The service features the Cathedral Choir and an array of contributions from across the Royal Navy, including former Head Chorister Freddie Fenton and a sermon from the Chaplain of the Fleet. This service was pre-recorded last month, and so our morning services here that day will proceed as normal.
Seafood on the Green - 4 July - What to expect…
Join us at Seafood on the Green on Saturday 4 July and perhaps as well as enjoying a freshly prepared seafood lunch you could win an amazing top prize or one of these fabulous hampers:
Cheese & Wine Hamper
Beauty Hamper
Food Lovers Hamper
Kids Hamper
Summer Things Hamper
The top prizes are: 1st prize £100 worth of M&S Vouchers, 2nd Prize £50 Portsmouth Theatre Vouchers, 3rd Prize Trio of wine (kindly donated by Camber Wines), 4th Prize Dave Thompson Southsea Print.
To have a chance of winning, grab your tickets at the Cathedral Shop or on the day. The draw will take place at 2pm during Seafood on the Green, so why not book to join us for a sit down al fresco lunch too? Tickets for Seafood on the Green are available here.
Proceeds supporting the Portsmouth Cathedral Choir Association. A limited number of cheese platters can be arranged.
With thanks to our event sponsor Chinneck Shaw.
Current Vacancies
We have several career opportunities available currently; please see our careers page for further information and how to apply.
We're hiring two Events & Marketing Assistants at Portsmouth Cathedral, a hands-on role spanning events, venue hire, and marketing in one of Portsmouth's most distinctive settings.
We are looking for up to three volunteer members across a wide range of senior financial experience to join our well-established Finance Committee.
Prayers & Intercessions
We continue to pray for: those recently Ordained, including Stuart, Kitty and Chris.
We give thanks: with Nicola and her family, for the safe arrival of twins River and Rain. We have been praying for the family throughout the high-risk pregnancy.
We remember those for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: William, Simon, Pauline, Hillary, John, David, Marion, Jean, Andrew, Tom, Matthew, Paul, Sylvia, Anne and Rebecca.
We continue to pray for the long-term sick, including: Gordon, Mary, Ann, Wynne, Abbie, Nigel, Jill, Martin, Colin, Richard, Hazel, Spencer, Jennifer, Karen, Carole, Davina, Philip, Mathai, Chris, Graeme, Alistair, Ralph, Lotti, Lila, Elizabeth.
We remember those who have died recently, including: Linda Green (Cathedral funeral 11am on Monday 6 July), Annabel Benton (Cathedral memorial service 2:30pm on Monday 13 July), Don Valler (Cathedral funeral 2":30pm on Thursday 16 July), Margaret Fiddy and Sandra Carr RIP.