News Stories
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3 Nov. 2025
New city vicar enjoys breadth of pastoral work
Bishop Jonathan has appointed the Rev Daniela Eisentraeger to be the new vicar of St Luke’s Church in Southsea. She is currently interim associate priest at Maybush in Southampton. She feels well suited to her new role, which will involve serving students, and those who live and work in the centre of Portsmouth. Read more
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29 Oct. 2025
Mini-stroke gave me impetus to think about confirmation
Bishop Jonathan confirmed 22 Isle of Wight candidates during a service at St Mary’s Church, Brading. Among them was Lynne Ferguson, who recalls how suffering a mini-stroke three years ago gave her the impetus to think about church. As soon as she walked into St Mary’s, Brading, it felt like home. So this service did genuinely feel like an affirmation of her Christian commitment Read more
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20 Aug. 2025
MY FAITH: Navy pioneer faced challenges to faith
Leroy Osbourne was the first black Chief Petty Officer in his branch of the Royal Navy. He had to cope with a variety of challenges to his faith, both in the Navy and afterwards. Now he’s involved with St Mary’s Church, Portchester, helping with children and young people, and with the building itself. Read more
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11 Aug. 2025
Urban role will be new challenge
Bishop Jonathan has appointed the Rev Dan Greenfield to be the new vicar of St Margaret’s Church in Southsea. Dan, who is currently associate priest in Crofton parish, will take on the leadership of this congregation, which was launched as a church plant in 2017 and is now fully engaged with its local community. Read more
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30 June 2025
Our oldest priest marks 50 years since ordination
The Rev Alan Ball, who is aged 99, was among those in our cathedral for this summer’s ordinations. He was there to support his daughter-in-law Mary Ball, who was being ordained deacon. The service happened precisely 50 years to the day since his own ordination as deacon. Read more
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19 June 2025
Backstage man steps into the limelight
Perennial backstage man Nathan Hamilton will step out into the spotlight once he is ordained at our cathedral. He’ll be one of 10 deacons ordained by Bishop Jonathan on June 28, and then will become a curate serving our parishes in Ryde. It will be very different from his previous roles as theatre technician and sound engineer. Read more
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10 June 2025
Bishop’s daughter is among those being ordained
The daughter of a former Bishop of Portsmouth is among 28 people who will be ordained in our cathedral at the end of June. Kitty Price, who is already licensed as a Reader, will become a deacon, which means she’ll be able to wear a dog collar and call herself ‘the Reverend’. Bishop Jonathan will ordain her on June 28, along with nine other new deacons and 18 new priests Read more
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4 June 2025
MY FAITH: Wedding, honeymoon and ordination within three weeks
Abbie Cann will have a busy three weeks, as she gets married, goes on her honeymoon, moves to the Isle of Wight, gets ordained and starts a new job this month. She’s one of 10 people who will be ordained as deacons in our cathedral on June 28. Read more
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31 March 2025
Professor shares how science and faith co-exist
Church, civic and community leaders heard from a university academic who is also a churchgoer about how science and faith co-exist. Professor David Bacon, who is director of the University of Portsmouth’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, and also a churchgoer and churchwarden at St Jude’s Church, Southsea, was speaking at the third Portsmouth Prayer Breakfast. Read more
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18 March 2025
American interns aim to make a difference in Ryde
There has been a friendly American invasion in Ryde, with six people from the US state of Georgia involved in ministry from within the town’s CofE churches. The two co-ordinators and four interns all live together in a modern monastic community next to one of the town’s churches. Read more