Annual Parochial Church Meeting Sunday 13 September 2020, 12.30pm CONTENTS THE DEAN’S FOREWORD ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ................................................................................................................................................... 4 CATHEDRAL COUNCIL ............................................................................................................................................................ 4 FUNDRAISING AND COMMERICAL EVENTS .................................................................................................................... 5 CATHEDRAL FABRIC .................................................................................................................................................................. 6 CANON CHANCELLOR ............................................................................................................................................................ 7 EDUCATION .................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 CANON PRECENTOR .............................................................................................................................................................. 10 VERGERS ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 MUSIC AND CHOIRS ................................................................................................................................................................ 12 THE SOCIETY OF CATHEDRAL RINGERS ......................................................................................................................... 13 SERVERS ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 THE CATHEDRAL’S MINISTRY OF WHOLENESS AND HEALING ............................................................................ 14 MOTHER AND TODDLER GROUP ...................................................................................................................................... 14 BECKET’S BUNCH (SUNDAY SCHOOL) ............................................................................................................................ 14 GUNWHARF CHAPLAINCY ................................................................................................................................................... 15 HOSPITAL WHEELERS .............................................................................................................................................................. 15 COMPANION LINK WITH ST ANSELM’S CATHEDRAL SUNYANI (GHANA) ....................................................... 16 FOOD BANK DONATIONS ................................................................................................................................................... 16 UNIFORMED GROUPS .............................................................................................................................................................. 16 CHURCHWARDENS ................................................................................................................................................................. 17 SERVICE WELCOMERS ............................................................................................................................................................. 18 DUTY CHAPLAINS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 HOLY DUSTERS .......................................................................................................................................................................... 18 CRAFT AND CHAT GROUP ................................................................................................................................................... 18 CATHEDRAL CLUB .................................................................................................................................................................... 18 FRIENDS OF PORTSMOUTH CATHEDRAL ....................................................................................................................... 19 PARISH LUNCH CLUB .............................................................................................................................................................. 19 THE FLOWER GUILD ................................................................................................................................................................ 19 CATHEDRAL GUIDES ............................................................................................................................................................... 20 RESEARCH GROUP AND ARCHIVE ..................................................................................................................................... 20 THE CATHEDRAL SHOP .......................................................................................................................................................... 21 CHRISTIAN AID AND FAIRTRADE ...................................................................................................................................... 21 REFLECTIVE AFTERNOONS ................................................................................................................................................... 22 MEMORIAL GARDEN ................................................................................................................................................................ 22 THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY ............................................................................ 24 2 THE DEAN’S FOREWORD ‘If you want to make God laugh, tell him your future plans.’ It’s an old joke, but it seems especially applicable to our current situation. At the turn of the year, who could ever have imagined the many ways our lives – and the life and the work of the Cathedral – would be affected by a global pandemic? Nonetheless, for all the disruption and deprivation (not least of access to our own Cathedral building), there has been much to give thanks for, including the commitment, compassion, and adaptability of our staff and clergy, our volunteers and worshipping community. Daily live-streamed worship is an obvious example of the changes we have seen. The following is extract from one of the many messages I have received about this: ‘What sustenance Portsmouth has provided over the past six months – How much we have appreciated the constancy, regularity and variety (punctuated by occasional humour as when Kitty’s dog appeared at Evensong) – what a team you have.’ I do indeed feel fortunate to have such an outstanding ‘team’ at the Cathedral, and am extremely grateful to every one of them. In saying this, I should make clear that I am referring not only to the ministry team and staff, but to our churchwardens, volunteers, members of Chapter, and everyone else who contributes to the life and work of the Cathedral. The rest of this report illustrates what a busy and productive ‘year’ it has been (it is actually nearly eighteen months since our last APCM). We have said goodbye to some wonderful members of staff, and welcomed outstanding newcomers. We have redoubled efforts to address the Cathedral’s financial situation. We have taken the opportunity to take a fresh look at how we do things as a Cathedral, and what we might do differently in the future. A good example of that is the decision to revise our pattern of Sunday worship, adding a service aimed at attracting new worshippers to our existing pattern. I look forward to beginning this as soon as we are able, alongside the return of choral music and our fantastic choirs. We are living through a period characterised by significant uncertainty. Waiting for government and church guidance, and then trying to make sense of what that means for us here, has been a continual task and sometimes a trial. In such a time it has felt vitally important, in the midst of so much else, to keep working at a new Vision for the Cathedral. Fortunately were able to hold a number of public consultations about this right up until the day before lockdown. I am delighted and excited that we are able to launch this Vision at this year’s APCM, making clear our sense of what God is calling us to be and do in the years leading up to our centenary in 2027. It occurs to me that in the new Vision we are indeed being so bold as to tell God our future plans. In my introduction to the Vision, I write that we are seeking to be ‘a community always open to God’s will, affirming the good things of past and present, while also seeking further growth and development.’ We are hoping, therefore, for divine approval rather than divine laughter! We pray that by God’s grace, Portsmouth Cathedral may indeed be a ‘beacon and safe haven, anchored in Jesus Christ’. With my prayers and best wishes, Anthony Cane Dean of Portsmouth 3 CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER In writing this I looked