- the Spring 2027 edition of our @CofEPortsmouth magazine will be a special commemorative brochure, detailing the history of our diocese and cathedral, and telling stories of the past 100 years.
- an exhibition within our cathedral, including artefacts from the past, such as the pectoral cross belonging to our first bishop – Bishop Neville Lovett – and copies of some of his sermons.
- the exhibition of ‘100 Faces’ will fill the nave of our cathedral from April 4th to 24th next year, alongside moving stories about their faith. Those photos, stories and some videos of these amazing people will also be shared on our website and social media every few days during 2027.
- the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Sarah Mullally, will be joining us on Saturday 1st May to mark precisely 100 years since the Diocese of Portsmouth was formed – on May 1st, 1927. We’ll thank God for the past 100 years, with invited guests from our history, civic dignitaries, and representatives from our parishes and church schools.
- thousands of people will join Bishop Jonathan for a special outdoor service from 11am on Sunday 18th July, on Governors’ Green in Old Portsmouth. It will be a colourful, lively celebration of everything that God has done and is doing within his Church in this diocese, and suitable for all the family.
- and we’ll mark precisely 100 years since our cathedral was hallowed, on October 4th, 1927. This special Evensong on Monday 4th October will use some of the liturgy from the 1927 service.
-
12 October 2026
Centenary launches with ice cream 99s for all
We launched the centenary celebrations of our diocese and our cathedral – as we entered ... read more
-
23 September 2026
Join us to mark 100 years of our diocese and cathedral
We’ll be marking the centenary of our diocese and our cathedral during 2027, with a ... read more
Centenary launches with ice cream 99s for all
WE launched our centenary celebrations – with ice-cream 99s for all.
Worshippers enjoyed a special Eucharist in the cathedral to reflect the fact that we have already clocked up 99 years of our diocese and cathedral – and then sampled the iconic 99s from an ice-cream van that parked outside its west door.
Among those sampling the Mr Whippy ice-creams were the Lord Mayor, Cllr Abdul Kadir, cathedral head girl chorister Evelyn Cowhig and Archdeacon Bob White (pictured above outside the cathedral).
Guests then heard about the special services, exhibitions, displays and mission events that will mark out 2027 as a special centenary year. It was on May 1st 1927 that the Diocese of Portsmouth was officially created, out of the Diocese of Winchester. And it was on 4th October 1927 that St Thomas’s Church in Old Portsmouth became Portsmouth Cathedral – two days before Neville Lovett was enthroned as our first Bishop of Portsmouth.
The events during 2027 will enable us to give thanks to God for our past, celebrate the people who make up the diocese in the present, and aim to leave a spiritual legacy for the future.
We have been focussing on the present by taking photographic portraits of 100 current worshippers from our churches and cathedral. Our ‘100 Faces’ project is designed to be a snapshot of just who is part of our diocese in 2027.
The launch event featured the unveiling of the first of the 100 portraits – a 120cm-high image of Tano Owi-Bovi, aged 17, who helps to lead worship at St Jude’s Church, Southsea. Tano was there in person to help unveil the image, alongside her family and others who have already had their portraits taken by professional photographer Peter Langdown.
Among the events to look forward to in 2027 are: