Weekly Notices | 18 May 2025
A Reflection from
David Price
The Summer term is a busy time for our Choristers – there are lots of special services and events like our forthcoming tour to Belgium at Half Term, but also, outside their life here, some are preparing for imminent public exams, school drama productions, concerts and school leaver events.
This Sunday we welcome the New Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson for one of his first public engagements when he comes to the Cathedral for the Annual City Service. He’s asked the choir to sing a special for his mayoral year – The Lord bless you and keep you in a setting by Sir John Rutter. In the evening, we will welcome The Choir of St Mary’s, Portsea to sing Evensong whilst our Cathedral Choir with Boy Choristers goes to sing at Holy Trinity, Privett as part of our programme of singing in parishes across the Diocese of Portsmouth.
On Tuesday, we are joined by the Choir of Dulwich College who will sing Evensong alongside the Cathedral Choir – we will be pleased to welcome back former chorister, Noah who is now at school there along with his dad, Gareth who was Director of Music at PGS until last Summer.
This Friday our Boy Choristers and adults head off to Belgium to sing concerts and services in Antwerp. And on Sunday afternoon we shall be singing Evensong at Mechelen Cathedral to mark the 100th Anniversary of the Malines Conversations – the first serious attempts by the Roman Catholic Church and The Church of England at healing past rifts and charting a path towards today’s ecumenical endeavours. We’ll also be visiting Antwerp Zoo, climbing the tower at Mechelen Cathedral and stopping off at a water park on the way home.
Dr. David Price,
Organist & Master of the Choristers
Dates for your diary…
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
Lunchtime Live - Angelina Kopyrina (piano) – Thursday, 22 May at 1:10pm
Vivaldi's Four Seasons and The Lark Ascending by Candlelight –Saturday, 24 May at 7:30pm
#PompeyTots – Wednesday, 28 May at 2:00pm
Lunchtime Live - Thomas Watkin – Thursday, 29 May at 1:10pm
Community News
Christian Aid
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 this Sunday and all fundraising efforts will be very welcome!
And a special thank you to everyone who came along and contributed to the 'Christian Aid Big Tea' it was lovely seeing you all there!
To help support you can donate here.
Annual City Service
At our principal Sunday service this week, we celebrate the City Service Eucharist at 11:00am. The service is attended by the new Lord Mayor, Gerald Vernon-Jackson after Mayor Making took place on Tuesday - together with the Leader of the Council, other Councillors and City representatives. We will be praying for all who live and work in the City of Portsmouth over the coming year, as well as all who will make decisions that shape the lives of all in this local area. The service includes hymns chosen by the new Lord Mayor and music sung by the Portsmouth Cathedral Choir. The preacher will be the Revd Tracey Ansell, who is the minister at North End Baptist Church, one of the joint Lord Mayor's Chaplains.
The Big Lunch - High Tea Saturday 7 June 3:00-4:00pm
Join us for a celebration of the end of volunteering week. Relax and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a slice of cake and take the opportunity to meet like-minded people from across the city.
Portsmouth Cathedral relies on its volunteers every day to support the worship that happens throughout the week and also to help us ensure special events run smoothly. We are not unusual though as many organisations across the city rely on thousands of volunteers. Come and join us for tea, coffee, and cake as we celebrate the end of the national volunteering week, Meet some like-minded people and perhaps make some new friends.
Let us know that you're coming so we don't buy too much cake! 😂
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!
We're Running a Raffle at Seafood on the Green Saturday 21 June
The PCCA hopes that you can join us for Seafood on the Green on Saturday, the 21 June from 12:00pm to 2:30pm, but if you can't then you can still join in the fun...
New this year - we're going to be running a raffle so even if you can't join us on the day you can still take part in the fun by purchasing some raffle tickets. Prizes include £100 John Lewis voucher, Cheese and Wine Hamper, Pamper Hamper and lots more.
Tickets are available from the Cathedral shop.
Don't forget that the La Paella Paella company are joining us this year and cooking up a feast. Their luxury seafood paella includes a mouth-watering selection of seafood; king prawns, calamari rings, mussels, and langoustine sautéed in garlic, tomatoes, saffron, mixed Mediterranean spices & authentic Spanish rice. It's the perfect way to spend a summer day, don't miss out on this opportunity to experience one of the highlights of Portsmouth's foodie calendar.
For more information, please visit our website and book tickets early, as the Paella portions are limited and to help us reduce food waste! We hope to see you there, but even if you can't make it, do buy some raffle tickets
Thank you for your support of The Portsmouth Cathedral Choir Association.
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 the Dean here.
Thy Kingdom Come: City Prayer Pilgrimage – Sunday 8 June
As part of our support of the global call to prayer for Thy Kingdom Come the Anglican Portsmouth Diocese will be hosting a Prayer Pilgrimage around the city followed by a Prayer Celebration Service on Pentecost Sunday 8 June 2025. We would love to invite all Christians from all churches across the city. This will follow 6 other similar walks across the diocese from 2-7 June.
The walk will start at Portsmouth Anglican Cathedral at 12:30pm and concludes back at the Cathedral where there will be a celebration prayer service at 7:15pm. The walk is a loop of about 14 miles and there are various points to join along the way. Everyone is welcome to come and join in and walk for as far they want to as we pray for our city.
Tough Mudder Madness
Some of our Choral Scholars and David Price are running Tough Mudder on Saturday 5 July - 12 obstacles over a 5km run at Belvoir Castle and lots of mud.
This madness is in a good cause - we are aiming to raise £2,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support. We're a third of the way there in our fundraising - but any help you give to get us to the target amount (or beyond) by July would be much appreciated.
You can donate here.
Choir Installations
Well done to Zach, Micah, Edward and Daniel who were installed as Pro-Choristers at Evensong on Tuesday this week. This promotion marks their on-going commitment to the Cathedral Choir and as they now commit to full time duties and begin to take leadership of younger boys joining the choir.
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.
See our opportunities on our career page 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 was installed as a member of Chapter on Sunday 11 May during the 11:00am Eucharist.
You can view more details about Marcelle 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.
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 18 May – Fifth Sunday of Easter
8:00am - Holy Communion
9:30am - #PompeySundays
11:00am - City Service Eucharist sung by the Cathedral Choir (Girls)
The Cathedral Choir (Boys) is singing Evensong at Privett Church at 6:00pm this evening
5:45pm - Choral Evensong sung by the choir of St Mary’s Portsea
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.
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