Weekly Notices | 11 May 2025
A Reflection from
Canon Nick
In Acts chapter 9, we hear about a disciple called Tabitha (or in Greek Dorcas) who was devoted to good works and charity. Whatever else we read in the pages of scripture, there is no shying away from the crucial importance of those two things. They are fundamental to the outworking of our Christian faith.
It was good to see the election of the new Pope this week, Pope Leo XIVth, an American from Chicago who has spent a great deal of his ministry in Peru and is known for his work with marginalised communities and for being a bridge builder. He too has a history of commitment to good works and charity, and we celebrate with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters at his selection and pray for his ministry.
The last week has seen other significant moments as well. We have had the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of VE day throughout the week which have been poignant and moving. These moments are an important way of passing on the facts and some of the impact of what happened and helping to ensure that we guard against such tyranny happening again in the future. It is the Kohima epitaph that always makes me pause on these occasions:
'When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.'
Their charity and good works led many of them to make the ultimate sacrifice.
This week we begin Christian Aid week, and we are also celebrating the 80th anniversary of the founding of Christian Aid itself just after the end of the Second World War; that is 80 years fighting poverty and injustice and bringing hope to communities who need it most. There are two events to mark this in the Cathedral this Sunday 11 May. At 4pm there will be The Big Tea with a conversation between Bishop Jonathan and John Plant from Christian Aid. John will also be preacher at a special regional celebration service of Evensong at 5.45pm to which all are very welcome.
Christian Aid’s fantastic work can only continue if we all help to raise the money it needs to support those in the greatest need. That task is only getting much harder as people get turned away on doorsteps or no longer carry cash. Christian Aid week always used to be the most significant fundraising opportunity in the whole year although that may necessarily be changing. It has always required a massive effort to undertake these collections but that is significantly more difficult now. If you are able to help perhaps even by just asking a few friends if they would either put something in a Christian Aid envelope or make an online donation – that will be worth it and is all extremely helpful. You can also give here.
Before the election of the new pope, the need was felt for "a prophetic spirit capable of leading a Church that does not close in on itself but knows how to go out and bring light to a world marked by despair". We too need to be a Church, a community of Christian believers, who similarly don’t turn in on ourselves but learn how to go out and bring light to a world marked by despair, and there can hardly be a better continuing message or mission for this Eastertide season, itself a period of celebration and hope.
The Revd Canon Nick Ralph,
Residentiary Canon
Dates for your diary…
Yoga at the Catehdral – Saturday, 10 May at 10:30am
Eucharist with Installation of a Member of Chapter – Sunday, 11 May at 11:00am
Regional Christian Aid Service & ‘The Big Evensong’– Sunday, 11 May at 5:45pm
#PompeyTots – Wednesday, 14 May at 2:00pm
Lunchtime Live - Musicians from PHS – Thursday, 15 May at 1:10pm
Evening Organ Concert - Matthew Owens – Friday, 16 May at 7:30pm
Annual City Service – Sunday, 18 May at 11:00am
#PompeyTots – Wednesday, 21 May at 2:00pm
Community News
Christian Aid Week 11–17: Together in Hope
Help us equal last year's amazing £3000 total to support the work to transform the lives of those facing the devastating effects of climate change and global inequality. Envelopes and a QR code will be available from next Sunday and all fundraising efforts will be very welcome!
Christian Aid - The Big Tea
Bishop Jonathan invites us to come along and take part on Sunday 11 May from 4:00pm as we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of Christian Aid. Tea and refreshments will be served from 4:00pm and there will be a chance to join in the open conversation and Q&A between Bishop Jonathan and John Plant from Christian Aid. The Big Evensong celebration follows on at 5:45pm.
Special 80th Anniversary Service - 11 May at 5:45pm
Christian Aid Week begins with a bang next Sunday evening at 5:45pm when we are privileged to host a special regional service to celebrate 80 years of Christian Aid! The preacher is John Plant, Christian Aid's national church relationship lead. Please join us!
Christian Aid discussion
I wonder how much you know about Christian Aid? Maybe you know they are a global charity that raises funds to help with humanitarian crises, such as after the recent earthquake in Myanmar. Maybe you’ve had churchgoers knocking on your door, asking you to contribute during Christian Aid Week? So you know that it’s also a charity that is supported by many local churches. One thing you might not know was how the charity began 80 years ago. At the end of the Second World War, British and Irish churches raised more than £80,000 for emergency supplies to help refugees in mainland Europe.
Read more here.
New COO appointment - Zoë Colbeck
The Cathedral has appointed Zoë Colbeck as Chief Operating Officer. She will begin work on Monday 30 June. Zoë joins the Cathedral with a wealth of expertise and experience, most recently from the Strawberry Hill House Trust as Executive Director. The Dean says, "I am delighted to welcome Zoë as our new Chief Operating Officer. She comes to us from the heritage sector with an impressive range of skills and experience well fitted to the next phase in our life and work as we move towards our centenary in 2027."
Zoë writes “I’m delighted to be joining Portsmouth Cathedral and to contribute to its life and mission. Having lived in Portsmouth for many years, I know what a vibrant and diverse city this is, one that is often undersold. I’m looking forward to helping the Cathedral play an even more active role in the community, serving as a beacon in people’s lives and ensuring it has a sustainable future at the heart of the city. With over 20 years of experience working with heritage buildings, I’m excited to bring that knowledge to support and strengthen this remarkable place.”
Cathedral Cycle Relay Event 2025
We're looking for a new Cathedral Cycle Champion!
For this year's relay Portsmouth is in the middle of the stage from Chichester Cathedral (19 miles) on Wednesday 11 June on its way to Winchester Cathedral (30 miles) the same day. So there will be opportunities to welcome the cyclists and baton to Portsmouth around midday, and for cyclists to join one or both stages. The Chichester-Portsmouth ride is flat and almost all on cycle paths, with a train to get there. The Winchester section has some hills but is very scenic. You can get the train back.
The role involves being an advocate for cycle use in our personal lives and in our journeys to and from the Cathedral . The Champion works with the staff team to help publicise events. The Champion will help to ensure that we increase the ability of those visiting and worshipping at the Cathedral to use pedal power to get to and from here (e.g. bike storage, safer routes).
If you're interested please contact theDean here.
Seafood on the Green – Saturday 21 June
Join us for an unforgettable experience for seafood lovers, with a variety of locally sourced dishes, with proceeds supporting the Portsmouth Cathedral Choir Association. Taking place on the green at Portsmouth Cathedral, providing a stunning backdrop for the foodie festivities, take the opportunity to enjoy freshly prepared dishes, including seafood paella & platters, pâtés and delicious desserts!
For more information, please visit our website here and book tickets early, as the Paella portions are limited and to help us reduce food waste!
A Service of Remembrance by the Sea - The Fishermans Mission
This Sunday, 11 May at 3:00pm, we gather by the waterside at Portsmouth Camber, adjacent to the memorial of the Wilhelmenia J (PO1 2JJ), for a gentle service of remembrance. This small, reflective gathering is held in memory of fishermen who have been lost at sea, and in appreciation of those who continue to risk their lives to provide for others. The service will include thoughtful readings and moving music from the sensational Powder Monkeys, whose voices will carry across the Camber. Afterwards, all are warmly invited to join us for tea or coffee at The Bridge Tavern, just a short stroll away.
Do come along and join us as we pause to remember and give thanks.
Ministry Team
We are delighted to announce that Kitty Price and Chris Nicol, currently both Lay Readers and much appreciated members of the Cathedral’s ministry team, are to be ordained this summer. They have been part of a small diocesan cohort of Readers exploring a vocation to the priesthood. This does mean, however, that they will go on to curacies in other parishes; Kitty will serve her curacy at St Simon's, Southsea and Chris at Holy Trinity, Cowes. Prayers and congratulations to both Kitty and Chris as they prepare for this exciting new phase in their ministries.
Opportunities at the Cathedral
Chief Finance Officer - Following the implementation of the Cathedrals’ Measure 2021, and the registration of Portsmouth Cathedral as a charity in March 2024, the new role of Chief Finance Officer will support Chapter, the Cathedral’s governing body, in offering strategic financial leadership. As Portsmouth Cathedral continues its journey of growth and expansion, we seek a CFO who will not only ensure financial oversight and compliance but also drive strategic initiatives to foster financial sustainability.
Voluntary Shop Supervisor - We are looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic Voluntary Shop Supervisor to oversee the daily operations at Portsmouth Cathedral’s shop. This role is vital in ensuring the smooth running of the shop, managing volunteers, and providing excellent customer service. The ideal candidate will have retail experience, strong organisational skills, a keen eye for detail, and the ability to work collaboratively with various team members.
More info here.
Chapter - Member Announcement
We are pleased to announce the appointment, following interviews, of Marcelle de Sousa as a non-executive trustee of the Cathedral. Marcelle will be installed as a member of Chapter on Sunday 11 May during the 11:00am Eucharist.
You can view the full story here.
New Electoral Roll, Annual Meetings and Elections to Chapter, Deanery Synod and as Churchwarden
Members of the Electoral Roll have been sent an email or letter about the election of a Chapter Member which is takes place by electronic means until 21 May. If you have not been contacted and are on the Electoral Roll, which is on display in the Cathedral, please contact the Cathedral Offices.
Annual Meetings will take at 6:30pm on Thursday 22 May. The Annual Meetings include reports on the Annual Accounts 2024 (which were approved by Chapter on 8 April, a copy is available in the Cathedral and on the website here), a report on the Electoral Roll, Safeguarding and Deanery Synod. The Election of Churchwardens and two Deanery Synod Representatives, to replace Sarah Shreeve and Kitty Price who have both stood down during the year, will also take place at the meetings. Nomination forms are available in the Cathedral or on the website.
For more information about Deanery Synod please speak to Canon Harriet.
Our volunteers have been so busy!
Picking up on Canon Jo's reflections in last weeks notices, where she thanked our volunteers for the time and effort they give to help provide a full week of Easter services, here is another look at what some volunteers have been up to...
In the pictures above you can see the Easter Lily displays as they were created by Clare and Rosemary, but other volunteers who are not normally Flower Guild volunteers also came in to provide the extra help needed to decorate the pillars in the Quire and Nave. Our flower guild is in need of new members, would you be interested in joining them?
Read more here.
We had a mini-heatwave this week, so of course... I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Of all the stalls at the fair, Jam and Preserves is the one that takes all year to plan and involves so many to create. This year I have been looking for interesting twists on traditional favourites like strawberry jam. Some of the recipes I have found pair strawberries with the floral notes of elderflower, the sweetness of watermelon or the tangy bite of Jalapeño peppers. If you are thinking of jam making, then thank you and I'd love to hear what you are planning! You can contribute in other ways to the success of this stall by donating jars for the fruits of the labour of others to be stored. Pretty, clean and label free jars can be left in the box in the cloister over the next few weeks. If you are planning to make some jam, then please help yourselves to some extra jars.
Save the date - Portsmouth Cathedral Christmas Fair 11:00am Saturday 6 December
Send pictures to this email here, the picture attached is from Sarah of her 2024 strawberry jam.
Rachael
Volunteer Coordinator
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 11 May – Fourth Sunday of Easter
8:00am - Holy Communion
9:30am - #Pompey Sundays
11:00am - Choral Eucharist sung by the Cathedral Choir (Boys) with Installation of a Member of Chapter
5:45pm - Choral Evensong to mark the 80th Anniversary of Christian Aid sung by the Cathedral Choir (Girls)
Prayers & Intercessions
We give thanks for: the work of Christian Aid throughout the world over the past 80 years.
We pray for: Kitty and Chris and all to be ordained this Petertide. Also for Marcelle and all who serve on our Cathedral Chapter.
We pray too for Pope Leo XIV as he takes up office after his election.
We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Jim, Margaret, Carole, Ken, Tina, Francine, Peter, John, Chris, Tom, baby Lottie and her family.
We continue to pray for the long-term sick, including: Marion, Alistair, Graeme, Richard, Spencer, Suzy, Alison, Jill, Mathai, Philip and all in need.
We remember those who have died recently, including: Pat Valler 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.
Have news or story you’d like to share? Submit a notice 📰