London: Evensong - Westminster Abbey
 

Hello.

We would like to attend an Evensong service at Westminster Abbey. I see in my guide book that Evensong occurs M-F at 5 p.m.

I would like to know how to proceed. Is there a certain entrance we need to use? Will it be crowded in that we need to arrive early to gain entrance?

Thank you in advance.

We attended Evensong at Westminster on the day we arrived in London. I have very fond memories through a jet-laged brain. We were escorted to a folding chair and the choir began to sing. I highly recommend it. Just show up at 4:30 and the guides will direct you.

Thank you for your response. Dare we go our first evening?? I can see it now, a soothing choir lulling my DH to sleep! Well, nothing a swift nudge of the elbow won't cure, lol. ;)

As long as he doesn't snore - don't worry :)

..Usually, in each cathedral(or church), there is one day that is a "dumb" day in which evensong is said rather than sung. Check this a it varies from place to place. I think the choir is better at St. Pauls.

Hmmm, I'm checking both Westminster's and St. Paul's websites, and I can't seem to tell which day may be their "dumb" day. I'll have to investigate a little more...

Could someone explain Evensong, please? I'll be in London twice this summer.

Evensong is one of the daily Anglican church services, usually heard in the late afternoon (or sometimes early evening). The service follows a liturgical format and includes prayers and readings, often with choral pieces. The service at Westminster Abbey is particularly beautiful, especially if you arrive early enough to be seated in the choir stalls in front of the main altar.

About how long does an Evensong service last, if anyone knows?

My understanding is that Evensong comes from the even older practice of monks singing "the hours" at set times around the clock.

Tuscan-
The Evensong service that we went to lasted about 35 minutes. It was lovely.
Connie

travelbunny said...

<i>&quot;..Usually, in each cathedral(or church), there is one day that is a &quot;dumb&quot; day in which evensong is said rather than sung.&quot;</i>

Does anyone know about this and if so, what day does this occur?

There are also periods without a choral evensong when the choirs are on vacation. Best thing is to check the posted schedule or inquire of a verger.

<i>&quot;..Usually, in each cathedral(or church), there is one day that is a &quot;dumb&quot; day in which evensong is said rather than sung.&quot; </i>

I'm not sure this is the case. If it is the policy of one church, another will have a different policy. Evensong, like any other service in a cathedral, can be rescheduled as other calls on the cathedral's availability demand. Or the choir might be on holiday, or there might be a visiting choir.

All Britain's major churches publish their service times, and planned music day by day, on their website. To avoid the risk of &quot;said&quot; vespers rather than evensong, or of the service simply not happening, it's always wisest simply to go to that church's site. Mistrust all generalisations about this.

You can hear a sung Evensong at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/choralevensong/

..the said evensong is usually the same day each week for any given cathedral but varies among the different cathedrals. One of my boys was a paid treble so I had the joy of listening to this service. The children really need the day off- can you imagine a 9 year old singing 6 evening services a week plus 2 on Sunday week after weeek except on school holidays?