Evensong

Evensong is a lovely choral program. About 35 minutes in length. Here's an "illegal" video (no photos in the Abbey) that will give you an idea of what it is....And NO I didn't shoot this, merely found it on the youtube website. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9khNF7EN0Y

Thank you, Claudia! I'll check it out. Kristen

Hello Kristen! We attend Evensong whenever we are in London - it truly is one of the highlights for us and we aren't Anglican either! It is a short service that is mostly choral in nature - a little bit of a sermon (very, very short) and there is program to help you follow the order of the service. The acoustics in the Abbey are amazing and it is wonderful to be in the Abbey without thousands of other people.
As you may have figured out, I highly recommend it!!

Thank you, Nancy! After viewing that above "secret" video I am SOLD. My DD walked in the room, asked if that was WA and then declared that "we are going there." I'm so proud. Just when I think I can't be more excited for this trip, I find that I do. Kristen

Kristen,
We will be in London in September - we have been once before in 2009 - and were considering an Evensong or a Sunday am service. We were able to take the audio self guided tour of Westminster Abbey before and loved it. I agree with the other post that said "nice to be in Westminster Abbey without hundreds of other people". Now I think I'm leaning toward the Evensong instead of the Sunday service. I'd like to hear other opinions.

Before you fix on a day to go to one of the services check on the church/cathedral/abbey website that it is in fact a "choral" Evensong. Despite the name it is not always sung.

I'm intrigued..what is this? Is it only on Sundays?

Has anybody attended Evensong at York Minster? I think it might be easier to fit into our schedule than Evensong at Westminster Abbey. Is it similar to Westminster Abbey?

Hi Carole,
We must be neighbors! When are you going to the UK? We're going in September - which seems like an eternity away, but I guess it's wise to plan early.

Katie - it is an Anglican religious service (not a concert) where the service is sung by a choir (resident or visiting). My sister was in a local church choir and they used to visit other places of worship, including cathedrals, to sing Evensong. There are variations and it is not only the big churches/cathedrals that hold such services. You will find also find it sung in some of the smaller churches in London. This rather long entry from Wikepedia explains its origins and practice http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evening_Prayer_(Anglican)

Kristen, I won't explain what an evensong is, since that's been done pretty well already. However, I was in England for a few weeks a few years ago, and I went to Evensong every day. It's that beautiful. To the poster who inquired about the York Minster, yes I sat the evensong there, as well, it was equally beautiful. As a Lutheran, it made no difference to me that it was an Anglican church, it was just as moving. I even had an evensong in the Crypt of Canterbury Cathedral, which was quite an experience, as well.
You'll love it.

Fellow travelers I've added a new research tool for trip planning: checking blogs. Very informative. Practical resource. Evensong schedules are available on the location's website. Helps the planning process. http://myporchblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/best-evensong-in-london-st-brides-fleet.html http://www.westminster-abbey.org/music/choral-services
http://www.stpauls.co.uk/

I try to go to Evensong as often as time allows. I just love it. Last spring it was at the Southwark Cathedral in, of course, London.

@Carole - I attended evensong at York Minster last August; get there early and you'll be seated in the quire. It was a lovely service. If I recall correctly they only had choral evensong one or two days per week.

We have attended evensong at several churches in and around London. All have been good, some great. Favorite was at St. Georges in Windsor.

According to the York Minster site, Evensong worship is usually every day of the week. Service time is 16:00 on Sundays and 17:15 the other days of the week.

I hadn't thought about attending Evensong at St. George's. Love that idea.

We attended the evensong in York and liked it very much. We also attended one at St.Martins in the Fields which we also liked. We didnt enjoy the one at Westminster as much. In 2010 they had evensong tu-s at 17:15 and sun at 16:00. On mondays visiting choirs perform.

Evensong at St. George's Chapel at Windsor is fantastic!!!

Thanks to everyone for the info about evensong at the York Minster. We will definitely be looking for a choral evensong in York. It sounds like a musical experience we would enjoy.

Another vote for St. Georges at Windsor, very intimate !!