Monthly Choral Evensong
Cathedrals and parish churches with a great choral tradition draw upon a rich inheritance of music, much of it sung by the choir alone. In the Anglican tradition this music finds its natural setting in the ancient office of Evensong, a combination of the medieval monastic offices of Vespers and Compline. The particular form of Evensong in use at St. John’s was created by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) and contains the language of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.
Evensong is essentially the celebration of the Incarnation of Jesus, the unique event in which God became a part of human life by becoming human.
In Choral Evensong words and music come together, each enriching the other, in order that our senses and our intellects, our hearts and our minds, may help us to draw closer to God who is above all, and through all and in all. Here beauty in language and music can speak to us of God in a rich and diverse way. Evensong is essentially a service of reflection – within a hallowed space you may forget the ceaseless activity of daily life and be still.
Choral Evensong is sung by the Parish Choir on the fourth Sunday of each month during term time at 4:00 p.m. in the church. We invite you to join us for this captivating, quiet, and beautiful service of music and prayer.