Westminister Abbey. Evening Prayer vs Evensong

Is this the same question that you asked yesterday?

I can’t speak for sure about Westminster Abbey but I’m familiar with services at other CofE cathedrals and churches.

If the service you’re talking about is the one described as “Evening Prayer said with hymns” I’d expect it to be a short low-key service with the congregation speaking the responses and singing the hymns and I wouldn’t expect there to be a choir.

Others who’ve been to Evening Prayer specifically at Westminster Abbey may have further comments. But if you’re looking for a choir, to be sure you should pick one of the services that has a list of music next to it. It seems there’s a proper choir Evensong on Tuesdays & Thursdays but not Wednesday. So if the choir is what’s important to you, rejig your schedule.

Editing to add that it looks as though St Paul’s Cathedral have Choral Evensong on Wednesdays - would that be an option instead?

It's my understanding that there is no choral service on Wednesdays. The service is spoken with a hymn sung by the congregation. This service takes place in the quire.

http://www.westminster-abbey.org/worship/daily-services?SQ_CALENDAR_VIEW=day&SQ_CALENDAR_DATE=2018-05-02

But also note that the abbey is open late on Wednesdays (which explains a lack of a larger choral service) and tickets are 1/2 priced if purchased after 4:30.

http://www.westminster-abbey.org/visit-us/wednesdays

Yes. This is the same post from yesterday because I didn't get any responses, so I thought I'd try it again with a catchier title haha. Do you think the Wednesday service is worth attending? Also, would we still have to pay the 1/2 ticket if we actually go to the service--since I thought that touring around the abbey was free if you attend a service. I'm in charge of a group, so I wanted to check this out ahead of time. Thanks for your responses.

Jane, thank you for your recommendations about St. Paul's evensong. I noticed that. Does anyone recommend it? I'll check into it. I appreciate your comment.

If you are going to a service to be able to tour the Abbey with your group afterwards that’s not going to happen.

If you wish to attend to appreciate the service and glimpse the stunning interior then yes it’s worth attending. I cannot tell you if their is a choir as I’ve only attended evensong.

You simply aren’t allowed to meander around the Abbey following either service.

Thank you. Maybe I've chosen the right night then. Since tickets are half price on Wednesday evenings, I would assume we could attend the Evening Prayer service and then pay for a 1/2 price ticket and tour. Would you assume that's true?

We have both Evensong and Evening Prayer at my church as we are Episcopalian (part of the same worldwide Anglican Communion as the Church of England). Evening Prayer is just as it sounds. There is no music. It is the same liturgy as Evensong but with no singing. It is a Said Liturgy.

If you wish to attend an Evensong service whose focus in worship is the sublime music, look elsewhere like St Paul's if their Evensong schedule works in your favor. As with Westminster Abbey, once Evensong has concluded, you will be asked to leave the cathedral. You will not be allowed to stay and meander the inside of Christopher Wren's magnificent architecture.

FYI -- there is no admission fee for Evensong, Evening Prayer or any liturgical service.

The Westminister Abbey website describes the Wednesday service as an Evening Prayer "said with a hymn." I'm guessing there is at least a hymn, hopefully. Also, they advistise that Wednesdays are half price ticket nights from 4:30 to 7:30. So, I'm trying to figure that out--perhaps we attend the service for free but then pay to meander around. Does anyone know?

I would assume we could attend the Evening Prayer service and then pay
for a 1/2 price ticket and tour. Would you assume that's true?

Regina, I would just go at 4:30 or after and pay your 1/2 price admission at the entrance. Then choose or not to attend the prayer service (the quire is right in the middle of the church) while you're there. The hymn will not be sung with an choir, as far as I know. The abbey is probably my favorite of London's magnificent monuments and has a very long and fascinating history. It well deserves the ticket price and quality time to explore. You do not need a formal tour: use a guidebook, buy one at the gift shop or rent a multimedia guide.

Map of the interior:
https://sites.google.com/site/westminsterabbeyinfo/home/maps

The verger tours are not available on Wed. nights.
http://www.westminster-abbey.org/visit-us/verger-guided-tours

As the others have said, "free" touring of the abbey isn't allowed before or after attending a service.

I think I finally have it. Thank you for that clear answer. I'm disappointed about my group missing the evensong, but maybe paying the ticket price for a full experience is a better option anyway. Thanks again.

...but maybe paying the ticket price for a full experience is a better
option anyway.

It is indeed! Spend some time reading about the abbey before you go. :O)

In all honesty, I'm not sure Evening Prayer would be of much interest to a non-Episcopalian or Anglican.

BBC Radio 3 has a weekly evensong broadcast if you want to get an idea of what it is like.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/search?filter=programmes&q=evensong

Great idea to watch videos. I could do the same with the Evening Prayer and then decide if it's worth it. I really appreciate all this great information.

Yeah, as I said upthread, Evening Prayer is a very low-key service for worshippers rather than of any interest as a spectacle. If you have a genuine desire to join the service (which will be short) then I’m sure you’d be very welcome, but join in the spirit of worship rather than sightseeing.

Good advice. Thanks.

Last time I visited I also saw that you can download their multimedia guide instead of having to use the ones there. I downloaded it to my iPhone and really liked that better than having to hold one of the big audio guides they hand out. If everyone in your group has smartphones, I'd suggest they download the guide before they travel so it's available to them.

http://www.westminster-abbey.org/visit-us/multimedia-guide

Great idea. Thanks for the link. We'll use it!

Westminster's own website has a lot of good info! Click on any of the links on this page:

http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history