Moving to a new country is disorienting in ways that are hard to predict. The practical things, the bank account, the NIF, the school registration, tend to get sorted. The social things take longer. Cathedral 101 did not set out to be a community hub for English-speaking expats in Cascais, but that is partly what it has become, and it is worth being honest about why.

Who comes to Cathedral 101

The regular congregation is around sixty people. British, Portuguese, American, South African, Brazilian, and Irish families all attend. Some came for the Sunday service and stayed for the community. Others came for the community and found the service was something they valued too. The two things are not separate here.

The monthly shared lunch

On the last Sunday of each month, the service is followed by a shared lunch in the hall. People bring a dish. There is no charge and no requirement to have attended the service. It usually runs from about 12:00 to 14:00. At the Pentecost lunch in May 2026, dishes from at least eight countries were counted on the table.

The Thursday language exchange

On Thursday evenings, the hall is used for a language exchange organised by congregation members. Portuguese speakers practise English, English speakers practise Portuguese. It is informal, free, and open to anyone. It started in 2021 and has run most weeks since, with a break in August.

The Tuesday toddler group

From September 2026, a Tuesday morning toddler group for children aged 0 to 4 will run in the hall from 9:30 to 11:00. It grew out of a conversation at the April shared lunch, when several parents noted the lack of free morning activities for young children in the town centre. It is open to all families, regardless of connection to the church.

If you are new to Cascais

The simplest thing is to come on a Sunday morning. The door opens at 10:00. There is coffee after the service and people tend to stay and talk. If you would rather make contact before arriving, email hello@cathedral101.com and Reverend Thomas Alcott will reply within two working days.

Community is not something that can be promised. But the conditions for it can be created, and that is what Cathedral 101 tries to do, one Sunday at a time.