People often arrive at Cathedral 101 having not been inside a church for years, sometimes decades. Some come because they have just moved to Portugal and want a point of connection. Some come because something difficult has happened. Some come because they walked past on a Tuesday and noticed the door was open. Whatever brings you, this is a plain account of what you will find.

The building

The church is on Rua da Misericordia 101 in Cascais. It is a nineteenth-century limestone building, not large, with a small courtyard at the back that is used for the monthly shared lunch and, from this summer, for occasional outdoor services. The interior has wooden pews, a stone floor, and windows that let in a particular quality of morning light between about 10:15 and 11:00. The heating works now, though it did not in January 2018.

The service

Sunday services begin at 10:30 and last approximately one hour. The order of service follows a liturgical structure: an opening, two or three readings from the Revised Common Lectionary, a sermon of around fifteen minutes, communal prayer, and a closing. Communion is offered on the first Sunday of each month. Printed orders of service are available in English and Portuguese.

Who attends

The regular congregation is around sixty people. British, Portuguese, American, South African, Brazilian, and Irish families all attend. Some have been coming since 2014. Others are on their second or third visit. There is no dress code. Children are welcome and there is a small room available for families who need it during the service.

After the service

There is coffee and tea in the hall after every service. On the last Sunday of each month this extends into a shared lunch, with people bringing dishes to contribute. It usually runs until about 14:00. Nobody is required to stay, but most people do for at least a few minutes.

If you have questions before you come

Email hello@cathedral101.com or call +351 214 832 076. Reverend Thomas Alcott replies to most emails within two working days. If you are arriving from outside Cascais, the nearest car park is on Rua Visconde da Luz, about four minutes on foot from the church.

The door opens at 10:00 on Sundays. There is no booking, no charge, and no expectation beyond a degree of quiet during the service itself. Come as you are.