Lent at Portsmouth Cathedral

Speaking truth in this fake news era, new art exhibitions for reflection and contemplation, lectures from leading figures from the creative arts on deepening spirituality, and forty cathedrals in forty days – just some of the opportunities for reflection, contemplation, and shared worship in our cathedrals this season.

Walking in Jesus’ footsteps this Lent, Holy Week and Easter.

Lent begins today with Ash Wednesday, marking the start of the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness and represent the busiest and most significant dates in the Christian calendar.

Throughout this season, you will find a variety of worship, talks, discussion groups, art exhibitions, study, arts and crafts and lunches.

Find your Cathedral’s website here.

An exhibition that explores the experiences of refugees is a centrepiece of Portsmouth Cathedral’s Lent programme this year.

The Exhibition by artist Nicholas Mynheer runs until 12 April and features paintings and sculptures that explore the experiences of refugees, both ancient and contemporary. The story of Jesus, Mary and Joseph fleeing to Egypt sits alongside the realities faced by people crossing the English Channel today.

There will be space for reflection, creativity and conversation through the exhibition, a series of talks, and opportunities for quiet contemplation.

The four-week Lent course inspired by the exhibition, features Nicholas Mynheer himself, talking about the background and themes of his work.

The following three weeks will be led by the cathedral clergy, exploring biblical themes of journey, rescue and redemption through the paintings and sculptures on display.

Each session finishes at 7:45pm and is followed by Compline at 8pm in St Thomas’s ChapelIt will invite people to consider what sanctuary means in our world today and offer a different way to engage with themes of refuge, displacement, compassion and hope.

Portsmouth also has a full programme of services and events running through Lent, Holy Week and Easter. You can find details of everything happening at the cathedral on their website or social media.