Welcome from Catherine Edenborough

God of surprises

It was a year ago this week that I came to meet the Dean with a view to serving my curacy at the cathedral.  I have been reflecting on how I came to be here and how God can take us by surprise.  I had never imagined myself at a cathedral.  Towards the end of the second year of ordination training, you have a conversation with your tutor about the sort of parish you would ideally like to go to for your curacy.  I said, ‘I would like to be in a small church, where you could know everyone; inner city; not formal or traditional; somewhere you could experiment; somewhere edgy’.

Then I went for the meeting with the Bishop where he tells you the intended parish for your curacy.  Bishop Christopher said, ‘So Catherine, we suggest you go to the cathedral’.  I tried to keep a straight face, but inside I was thinking… ‘What??  How does that fit with how I was seeing it?’

I came to meet the Dean expecting to agree that this was not likely to be a good fit for me.  We sat in his study and he talked about life at the cathedral.  He shared his vision for engaging with the wider community and for experimenting with new ideas.  By the end of our conversation, to my surprise I felt energised and excited at the prospect of coming here.  Next I met Canon Kathryn, who was to be my training supervisor, and after a really good meeting with her, that was it!  All my reasons for not coming had evaporated; on the contrary, I felt really drawn to the place.  Now that I have been here a few weeks, I am again surprised at how much at home I already feel, and how quickly that has happened.  And a big thank you to all of you for making me so welcome.

It’s amazing how God surprises us!  This one small story goes to show how the Christian life is an adventure and you never quite know where God is going to lead you.  God knows the way we cannot see, and knows what is best for us.  Our part is to trust and be open to that leading.  As we read in Matthew 6:33 ‘Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’

Catherine Edenborough
Cathedral Curate

Visiting the Cathedral

The Cathedral continues to be open daily from 10.00am to 2.00pm and on Sundays from 11.45pm to 2.00pm, thanks to the support of our volunteers. You can find more information about what to expect when you visit, including the safety measures we are taking here.

Holy Communion - Sunday 30 August

We look forward to welcoming you in person to the Cathedral on Sunday morning, when we will be holding four services of Holy Communion at 8.00am, 9.00am, 10.00am and 11.00am. Places can be pre-booked for all our Sunday morning services through Eventbrite.

Face coverings in the Cathedral

It is now necessary to wear a face covering when you are in the Cathedral for any purpose, unless you are exempt under the Government regulations. If you do have an exemption, please let us know when you arrive, as you will still be most welcome to enter the building. 

Services

With the latest easing of lockdown and announcement that choirs may sing, we are looking forward to when Choral Services will be able to recommence. Under the current Government regulation members of the congregation are still not permitted to sing.

Online worship

Monday-Saturday                            

8.15am Morning Prayer                    
5.30pm Evening Prayer      
8.30pm Compline from 1st September

Sunday

8.00am Holy Communion (BCP)
9.00am Holy Communion
5.30pm Evensong followed by online refreshments at 6.30pm      
8.30pm Compline from 6th September

How to join the services

You do not need to be a member of Facebook to join the services. Please use this link when the service is about to begin. You will see a prompt asking you to join Facebook; just click ‘not now’. Orders of service can be found on the Resources Section of our website here.

Order of Service for Sunday 30 August

The order of service for Eucharist on Sunday 30 August can be found here.

Sunday Refreshments via Zoom

Sunday Refreshments will be hosted on Zoom at 6.30pm. In order to maintain security details will be sent with our emailed notices.

Prayers and Intercessions

Cathedral Prayers

We pray for all those affected by COVID-19.

We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Christopher, Clare, Sally, David, Bob, Derek, Nigel, Trevor, Izzy, Jenny, Des, (baby) Jonah, George, Clare, Bishop Peter Hancock, Florence, Alan, Lawrence and all those in need.

All those who have died: Jack Owens and Robin Spruce RIP.

To add someone to the prayer list, please email info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

In the notices this week:

• Annual Meetings and Elections

• Cathedral Offices

• Thank you from the Percivals

• Ride and Stride - Saturday 12 September 2020

• Recruiting for a Digital Marketing Manager

• Christmas Market 2020

• Renee Chilton

• Online Resources

• Supporting Portsmouth Cathedral

Annual Meetings and Elections

Annual meetings will be held on Sunday 13 September at 12.30pm (via Zoom).

While it is not ideal to hold these meetings via Zoom, this is the only way forward this year. It is the only way we can do this within the required timeline without severely limiting the number of those able to attend.

Elections

• Churchwardens: the annual election of two churchwardens will be held at the meeting of parishioners. Following the 2018 revision of the Constitution and Statues one Churchwarden is also elected to serve as a Lay Member of Chapter whilst holding the office of Churchwardens. Should the person holding this appointment not be re-elected then a further election (for Churchwarden serving as Lay Members of Chapter) will be held. The nomination form for churchwarden is here, and for churchwarden serving as Lay Chapter here.

• Deanery Synod: representatives of Deanery Synod will be elected at the APCM. Our thanks to the current representatives: June Purvis, Kitty Price and Marion Syms. For more information about this role please contact Canon Kathryn Nomination forms are available here.

Vision and Strategy

The APCM will include the launch of our new Vision and Strategy, details of which will be shared with the whole Cathedral Community through a mailing next month.

Annual Accounts

The 2019 Annual Accounts are now available here and on display in the Cathedral. If you would like a printed copy please contact info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk.

Annual Reports

The Annual Reports to the APCM will be published next week.

Electoral Roll

The revised roll is on display in the Cathedral. Applications to join the roll will be added after the APCM. If you are uncertain as to whether or not your name is on the roll please contact the Electoral Roll Officer, Terry Ward.

Those wishing to attend the meeting should email info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk for details giving full name and postal address to receive the details of the meeting.

Cathedral Offices

To comply with Government guidance and ensure a safe working environment for our staff and volunteers, only a limited number of individuals may be in the Cathedral Offices at any one time.  Staff are on a rota and therefore may be working at home instead of in the office. It will therefore be necessary to call or email ahead to make appointments rather than dropping by as was our practice. The same warm welcome awaits, but in a slightly more planned way because of our Covid precautions.

The Cathedral Offices will be closed on Monday for the Bank Holiday. Email to info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk will continue to be monitored and responded to as necessary.

Thank you from the Percivals

Kathryn, James, Dominic and Eliza, and Polly the dog, are very much enjoying being the Percival’s of Penny Street, and are so grateful for all your cards, presents, good wishes and prayers for their move - thank you!

Ride and Stride – Saturday 12 September 2020

The annual Ride and Stride will be taking place on Saturday 12 September, raising money for the Hampshire and the Islands Historic Churches Trust (HIHCT) which work to preserve our region’s historic churches and chapels of all denominations. The event invites people to walk, cycle, drive, ride or run to as many churches in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as you wish in one day, whilst raising sponsorship money for the HIHCT.

Ride and Stride will go ahead this year, albeit with modifications to accommodate social distancing. Dean Anthony has already committed to cycling to as many churches on the Isle of Wight as possible!

If you would like to take part, information is available on the HIHCT website here. The easiest and safest way to collect donations is online via Virgin Money Giving here. We strongly recommend this option in light of Covid-19.

As well as raising funds for HIHCT, you can also nominate Portsmouth Cathedral to receive half of your sponsorship money and we do encourage you to consider this in the light of our challenging financial circumstances.

Please do let us know that you’ll be participating by emailing info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

Recruiting for a new Digital Marketing Manager

Applications for the new post of Digital Marketing Manager, funded by a new grant from the Cathedral Sustainability Fund designed to help Portsmouth Cathedral to become financially sustainable, close on Monday night. This is an important role that will play a key part in delivering the forthcoming Vision and Strategy. We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated individual with the passion, drive and experience to manage marketing and communications.

To apply: please download the application pack on the Cathedral’s website and return your application (which should consist of a covering letter setting out what attracts you to the post and why you believe you are the person for it, an application form and a recruitment monitoring form) to vacancies@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk.

Closing date for applications: 11.30pm Monday 31 August 2020

Interviews: week commencing 7 September 2020

Christmas Market 2020

Planning is underway for the Christmas Market on Saturday 5 December. We will be making a number of changes in light of current restrictions, including social distancing and a one way system. There will be fewer volunteer-run stalls and they will be spaced out.

For the first time we will welcome artists, makers and independent traders, with a strong focus on those local to the area. Partnership and engagement with the City and surrounding areas is a key part of the new Vision and Strategy, and we look forward to welcoming local, independent businesses to the event. The Dean has agreed that Cathedral-run stalls will be located in the Baptistery and Quire (but not St Thomas Chapel), and local traders will be in the Nave. Due to the focus on stalls selling goods, we will be calling the event a Christmas Market.

We know this is a departure from previous years. Feedback from our volunteer has been positive overall and we hope you will agree that it is a positive step forwards.

How can you help?

• Volunteer – we will need extra volunteers this year in a number of roles including as a steward and helping to set up and take down the Market. If you’d like to volunteer at this year’s Market, please email Sophie.Henstridge-Brown@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

• Share Traders’ Information with friends and family - a link is available on our website here.

• Make preserves – during this traditional season for preserve making, please do make jams, marmalades, honey, curds and chutneys for the Preserves stall.

• Collect donations – of Christmas decorations and silk flowers for the Flower Guild stall, bottles for the bottle tombola and chocolate for the children’s chocolate tombola. Please set aside contributions at home and details of how to donate will be given closer to the time. Requests for baked goods will be made closer to the time.

• Please note that this year we will not be inviting donations of books and CDs, clothes and jewellery, chocolate, children’s clothes and toys, china and glassware, toiletries and needlework.

Renee Chilton

Gerry Chilton would like to thank all those from the Cathedral Community who have sent the wonderful messages of support by card, letter and email to him and the family following Renee’s sudden death.

Online Resources

A reminder that resources for prayer, worship, and family activities at home can be found on our website here

Supporting Portsmouth Cathedral

Give As You Live

Support Portsmouth Cathedral whilst doing your usual online shopping! Simply sign up to Give As You Live and Portsmouth Cathedral will receive a donation every time you shop through their website.

Sign up here and add ‘Portsmouth Cathedral Development Trust’ as your charity of choice. Do also set a donation reminder to remind you to shop via Give As You Live.

Ecclesiastical Trust130

Insurance provider Ecclesiastical are marking their 130th anniversary by donating £130 to a church or Cathedral when a new home insurance policy is taken out before 31 December 2020. If you decide to take a policy with Ecclesiastical this year, please take advantage of their Trust130 promotion and nominate Portsmouth Cathedral. You can find out more on their website here.

Regular Giving

Over past months we have been sharing some of the profound financial challenges that Portsmouth Cathedral faces. The Cathedral team has done everything possible to reduce expenditure and Chapter has approved revised budgets for 2020 and 2021 which see deep cuts of almost 40%. Even with such drastic measures, we will be unable to achieve balanced budgets and to continue our ministry in the way we aspire to without the support of our congregation.

We know many people are facing financially challenging circumstances. If you are able to, please consider making a new or increased regular or one-off donation to support our work. Every gift is hugely valued and very gratefully received. If you are a UK taxpayer, signing up for Gift Aid will enable us to claim an additional 25% of your donation from HMRC.

If you would like to talk about how your gift can make a difference, please contact our Head of Fundraising Sophie Henstridge-Brown on Sophie.Henstridge-Brown@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk.

Getting in touch

We know that this is a lonely and anxious time for many people. Please feel free to get in touch if we can help in any way, or if you just want to hear another voice!

Over August, the Clergy and lay staff will be taking holiday. Please bear with us if it takes us longer to get back to you than usual.                                                                                                                                                 

The Dean: 023 9282 4400 or Anthony.Cane@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

Canon Jo Spreadbury 023 9275 2335 or Jo.Spreadbury@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

Canon Kathryn Percival: 023 9289 2967 or Kathryn.Percival@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

Cathedral Curate, Catherine Edenborough: 023 9282 3300 extn 221 or Catherine.Edenborough@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk (Usual days at the Cathedral: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday)

Messages can also be left on the Cathedral phone system 023 9282 3300 or by email to info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk or pastoral@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk.