The Church of England’s evening service, adapted after the Reformation from the monastic hour of Vespers, is a wondrous phenomenon. Even the word ‘Evensong’ is poetic, and it seems to chime in perfect harmony with England’s seasons: Autumn’s melancholy, early evening light; the merry crackle of Winter frost; Spring’s awakening, or the lazy, protracted sun strained through the warmed windows of a Summer afternoon.
Even in our American Anglican tradition, which very closely follows that of the Church of England, this is a beautiful, meaningful, and very moving service……even for an Anglo Catholic like me…..and it has become far too rare in our churches. I wish it were much more common, because we are truly missing something for it not being a more common part of our worship.
The Choral Evensong using the 1662 BCP at the opening of last week’s Mere Anglicanism service was glorious. Fr. Dunbar and the St. Phillip’s Chancel Choir were brilliant.
If you visit Savannah, GA, Christ Church Anglican conducts a beautiful Compline service on Sunday nights at 9pm, at its new, temporary location of the Independent Presbyterian Church on Bull Street.
We had a beautiful choral Evensong at my parish on All Saints Day. Our new priests have a special affinity for music and promise more Evensongs in the future. Yay! I know we had a number of visitors from other faiths in attendance because I heard them talking after the service. This is one of the gifts Anglicanism brings to Christianity.