Did you know that Choral Evensong at St Nicolas has the highest average attendance of all our weekly church services? As with all ‘headline’ statistics, this is a bit misleading, because choir members bump up the numbers, but the singers come because they find it spiritually uplifting to join in leading the music for this much-loved traditional service in the calming atmosphere of our beautiful ancient building.
If you have ever wondered what Choral Evensong is all about, why not come and find out? A friendly welcome awaits you and you can join in with some of the singing or just listen if you prefer. In the summer we have drinks in the church garden afterwards. What’s not to like?
Next Choral Evensong at St Nicolas
Video of Choral Evensong Service recorded in 2021
SOME Introductory Notes from the Service Booklet
1. The words of this Evening Prayer service are from the Church of England Book of Common Prayer and have remained largely unchanged for over 500 years. There is no sermon, and we hope that the words and music will speak for themselves.
2. Some of the music that we sing at Choral Evensong was composed for use in cathedrals and college chapels and is not suitable for congregational use. At St Nicolas we try to achieve a reasonable balance between choir and congregation so you will get opportunities to sing as well as to listen.
3. Items to be sung during the service appear in blue type in the Service Sheet. Full music hymn books are available in the church so please ask for one if you would like to sing the hymns in harmony.
4. The words and music for the psalm are provided on a separate sheet, together with the details of the items to be sung by the choir. Congregational chants for the canticles (‘Magnificat’ and ‘Nunc Dimittis’) are included in the service sheet but please note that the choir will sometimes sing one or both canticles to a more complex setting.
5. If you are interested in singing with the St Nicolas Choir and would like to know more about it, please speak to anyone from St Nicolas after the service.
Past CHORAL Evensongs
Click on the picture to see the music list for the relevant date.