Diocese of Portsmouth
The Church of England

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News Stories

  • 14 May 2026
    in Vision and Strategy

    Iconic Fareham clock to be repaired

    An iconic clock on a Fareham church will be repaired after years of not working properly. The clock faces on the bell tower of St Peter and St Paul Church – which greets visitors to one part of Fareham town centre – will be lowered to the ground later this month, and repaired over the summer. It’s all part of a project to repair and refurbish the church building, so it can be used by future generations. Read more

  • 1 April 2026
    in Vision and Strategy

    Funding for work with children, families and teenagers in Cowes

    Some of the funding offered to our Pilot Cairns will be spent on new ministry to children, families and young people in Cowes. The churches there plan to recruit staff who can offer a toddlers’ group during the week, activities for children during Sunday worship and also regular youth work. Read more

  • 24 March 2026
    in Vision and Strategy

    Church-planter will create two new congregations

    Bishop Jonathan has appointed the Rev Mack Deptula as a new church-planter in Fareham. He will lead a group from St John’s, Fareham, to plant a new congregation at St Peter and St Paul Church – and subsequently lead a group to plant a new worshipping community in the Welborne development. Mack is currently a curate in Exeter and church-planter in Exwick. Read more

  • 19 Jan. 2026
    in Vision and Strategy

    Congregation renews Portsmouth church by planting

    Worshippers are renewing St Philip's Church in Cosham by planting a new congregation within the building and helping it to grow. The Rev Fran Carabott explains how God called him to plant a second church in Portsmouth, and what has made a difference there. Read more

  • 19 Nov. 2025
    in Vision and Strategy

    Our clergy learn more about youth work

    Clergy from across our diocese learnt more about how to begin and develop youth work in a five-session training programme. Entitled ‘Launchpad’, the course was developed by the charity Youthscape and delivered by our diocesan children, youth and families officer Heather Powney, with the vicar of St Margaret’s, Southsea, the Rev Dan Greenfield. Read more

  • 30 Oct. 2025
    in Vision and Strategy

    New Harbour congregations are created

    Two new congregations are being created as part of Harbour Church. The all-age service at St Alban’s Church, Copnor, began in September, while the new contemporary service at All Saints, Commercial Road, is scheduled to start in January. Both of these churches have been helped by funding from the national Church of England, which has enabled two new team vicars to be recruited – as well as refurbishments to both church buildings. Read more

  • 6 Oct. 2025
    in Vision and Strategy

    Family-friendly Barn Church is launched

    Dozens of worshippers have started to come to ‘Barn Church’ – a new style of church service aimed at those living in the Meon Valley. They meet every Sunday morning in the Soberton guide hut for coffee and pastries, worship, discussion, prayer and family-friendly activities. It’s one of several new congregations launched this Autumn across our diocese Read more

  • 14 July 2025
    in Vision and Strategy

    New vicar aims to grow congregations

    Bishop Jonathan has appointed the Rev Fran Carabott to be the new vicar of Cosham and Wymering – with a brief to grow the congregations at both churches. Fran has a track record of church-planting, leading the group that created the new congregation at St Margaret’s Church in Southsea and ensuring its buildings were used to engage local families. He’ll begin his new role in September. Read more

  • 23 April 2025
    in Vision and Strategy

    New minister will unveil ‘Barn Church’ this autumn

    Bishop Jonathan has appointed the Rev Emma Andersen to a new role within the Meon Valley parishes. She’ll take charge of a new venture – Barn Church – which aims to offer an alternative worshipping community for those who live in the villages in this part of Hampshire Read more

  • 24 March 2025
    in Vision and Strategy

    Harbour stalwart to lead Copnor congregations

    Bishop Jonathan has appointed the Rev Katherine Message to be a new team vicar for Harbour Church in Portsmouth. She’s currently serving the church as curate and has been involved with their congregations since it started in 2016. Her new role will see her have specific responsibility for its congregations at St Alban’s Church in Copnor. Read more

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