Welcome to Westminster Abbey. Daily prayer has been offered in this place for over a thousand years, and your participation in today's service is warmly welcomed. At choral Evensong most of the service is sung by the choir on our behalf. We participate through our presence and our listening, that the words and the music might become a prayer within us and lift us to contemplate God's beauty and glory.

The service always includes one or more psalms. These ancient prayers, taken from the Old Testament, reflect the full range of human emotions and experiences; from the depths of anger, resentment, and abandonment to the heights of ecstatic joy and praise. They were used by Jesus, and have always been at the heart of the Church's daily prayer.

The canticles Magnificat (Luke 1: 46–55) and Nunc dimittis (Luke 2: 29–32) reflect two responses to the Incarnation (God becoming fully human in Jesus Christ). Both speak of the fulfilment of God's promises, not just to 'Abraham and his seed', but also 'to be a light to lighten the Gentiles' (all nations). With their themes of fulfilment and completion, these texts have been given central place for many centuries in the Church's prayers for the evening and at the end of the day.

Please join in saying the words and singing the hymn printed in bold type.

The church is served by a hearing loop. Users should turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T.

Photography, filming, and sound recording are not allowed in the Abbey during services. Please ensure that mobile telephones and other electronic devices are silent.

The service is sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey.

The Chorister Experience

This afternoon we are delighted to welcome a number of boys who join the Abbey Choir at Evensong today as part of our Chorister Experience. This is a regular event, offering a taste of choristership to boys who are curious about what it is like to sing in a church choir and would like to try it for a day. In addition to participating in Evensong, the boys have spent the afternoon in various activities including singing with the Choristers, trying on choir robes, and exploring the Abbey. For further information please visit the Abbey Choir School or contact choirschool@westminster-abbey.org. We warmly welcome enquiries at any time.

Order of Service

All stand as the choir and clergy enter

The choir sings the Introit

Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:
Such a Way, as gives us breath;
Such a Truth, as ends all strife;
Such a Life, as killeth death.

Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength:
Such a Light, as shows a feast;
Such a Feast, as mends in length;
Such a Strength, as makes his guest.

Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart:
Such a Joy, as none can move;
Such a Love, as none can part;
Such a Heart, as joys in love.

Words: 'The Call' from 'The Temple' George Herbert (1593–1633)
Music: from 'Five Mystical Songs' Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)

All remain standing as the officiant introduces the Confession

Beloved, we are come together in the presence of Almighty God and of the whole company of heaven to offer unto him through our Lord Jesus Christ our worship and praise and thanksgiving; to make confession of our sins; to pray, as well for others as for ourselves, that we may know more truly the greatness of God's love and show forth in our lives the fruits of his grace; and to ask on behalf of all people such things as their well-being doth require. Wherefore let us sit or kneel and keep silence, and remember God's presence with us now.

All kneel or sit to say together

O God, our Father,
we have sinned against thee
in thought, word, and deed;
we have not loved thee with all our heart;
we have not loved our neighbour as ourselves.
Have mercy upon us, we beseech thee;
cleanse us from our sins;
and help us to overcome our faults;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The officiant gives the Absolution

May the almighty and merciful Lord grant unto you pardon and remission of all your sins, time for amendment of life, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

All say together the Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

All stand. The officiant and choir sing the Responses

Humphrey Clucas (b 1941)

All sit. The choir sings Psalm 119: 41–56

Let thy loving mercy come also unto me, O Lord : even thy salvation, according unto thy word.
So shall I make answer unto my blasphemers : for my trust is in thy word.
O take not the word of thy truth utterly out of my mouth : for my hope is in thy judgements.
So shall I alway keep thy law : yea, for ever and ever.
And I will walk at liberty : for I seek thy commandments.
I will speak of thy testimonies also, even before kings : and will not be ashamed.
And my delight shall be in thy commandments : which I have loved.
My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved : and my study shall be in thy statutes.

O think upon thy servant, as concerning thy word : wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust.
The same is my comfort in my trouble : for thy word hath quickened me.
The proud have had me exceedingly in derision : yet have I not shrinked from thy law.
For I remembered thine everlasting judgements, O Lord : and received comfort.
I am horribly afraid : for the ungodly that forsake thy law.
Thy statutes have been my songs : in the house of my pilgrimage.
I have thought upon thy name, O Lord, in the night-season : and have kept thy law.
This I had : because I kept thy commandments.

All stand

Chants: Thomas Attwood Walmisley (1814–56) and George Garrett (1834–97)

All sit for the first Lesson, Isaiah 56: 1–8

Thus says the Lord:
   Maintain justice, and do what is right,
for soon my salvation will come,
   and my deliverance be revealed.

Happy is the mortal who does this,
   the one who holds it fast,
who keeps the sabbath, not profaning it,
   and refrains from doing any evil.

Do not let the foreigner joined to the Lord say,
   'The Lord will surely separate me from his people';
and do not let the eunuch say,
   'I am just a dry tree.'
For thus says the Lord:
To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths,
   who choose the things that please me
   and hold fast my covenant,
I will give, in my house and within my walls,
   a monument and a name
   better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
   that shall not be cut off.

And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
   to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,
   and to be his servants,
all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it,
   and hold fast my covenant—
these I will bring to my holy mountain,
   and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices
   will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
   for all peoples.
Thus says the Lord God,
   who gathers the outcasts of Israel,
I will gather others to them
   besides those already gathered.

Here ends the first lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Magnificat

Evening Service in B flat, Charles Villiers Stanford (1852–1924)

All sit for the second Lesson, Colossians 1: 24—2: 7

I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God's commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me.

For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face. I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Here ends the second lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Nunc dimittis

Evening Service in B flat, Charles Villiers Stanford

All face east to say together the Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth:
and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell;
the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic Church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

The officiant and choir sing the Lesser Litany; the Lord's Prayer and the Responses

Let us pray.

All kneel or sit

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The officiant sings the Collects; of the day, for peace, and for aid against all perils

O God, who, through the preaching of the blessed apostle Saint Paul, hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world; grant, we beseech thee, that we, having this wonderful conversion in remembrance, may shew forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same, by following the holy doctrine which he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed; give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both, our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that, by thee, we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Music Humphrey Clucas

All sit. The choir sings the Anthem

Nox, et tenebrae, et nubila
Confusa mundi et turbida,
Lux intrat, albescit polus,
Christus venit, discedite!

Cedit, hyems, tua durities,
Frigor abiit; rigor et glacies
Brumalis et feritas, rabies,
Torpor et improba segnities,
Pallor et ira, dolor et macies.

Nunc amor aureus advenies,
Indomitos tibi subjicies,
Tendo manus...

Night, and darkness, and clouds, disorder and confusion of the world: Christ comes, depart!

Winter, give up your rigour; the cold has gone, the hard and ice, the solstice and wildness, the frenzy, lethargy, and cruel sloth, pallor and anger, pain and leanness.

Now come, golden love, tame the wild. I stretch my hands...

Words: Anonymous ms of Benedictbeuern (Carmina Burana) and from 'Hymnus Matutinus' from 'Cathemerinon II' Prudentius (348–c 413)
Music: 'Cedit, Hyems' Abbie Betinis (b 1980)

All kneel or remain seated for the Intercessions

The officiant says the Prayers; for the Royal Family, and for the Members of the Order of the Bath

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless our most gracious Sovereign Lord King Charles, Queen Camilla, William Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the Royal Family: endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God save our Gracious Sovereign, and all the Members of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath living and departed. Amen.

All say

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.
Amen.

All stand to sing the Hymn

We sing the glorious conquest
   before Damascus' gate,
when Saul, the Church's spoiler,
   came breathing threats and hate;
the ravening wolf rushed forward
   full early to the prey;
but lo! the Shepherd met him,
   and bound him fast to-day!

O Glory most excelling
   that smote across his path!
O light that pierced and blinded
   the zealot in his wrath!
O voice that spake within him
   the calm reproving word!
O love that sought and held him,
   the bondman of his Lord!

O Wisdom, ordering all things
   in order strong and sweet,
what nobler spoil was ever
   cast at the Victor's feet?
What wiser master-builder
   e'er wrought at thine employ,
than he, till now so furious
   thy building to destroy?

Lord, teach thy Church the lesson,
   still in her darkest hour
of weakness and of danger,
   to trust thy hidden power.
Thy grace by ways mysterious
   the wrath of man can bind,
and in thy boldest foeman
   thy chosen saint can find!

Words: John Ellerton (1826–93)
Tune: 'Kings Lynn' 155 NEH, English folk melody

All remain standing as the choir and clergy depart

Music after the service

Postlude in D minor (Six Short Preludes and Postludes Op 105)

Those who wish to may sit for the remainder of the organ voluntary

Choristerships at Westminster Abbey

St Margaret's Choristers

If you have a daughter aged 10 or 11 who would like to sing with the St Margaret's Choristers, please contact Greg Morris, Director of Music, St Margaret's Church, StMargaret.Choristers@westminster-abbey.org. Find out more about Music at St Margaret's Church.

The Choir of Westminster Abbey

If you have a son who enjoys singing, you can find out more information about our world-renowned Abbey Choir and its unique Choir School. 

Alternatively, please contact Dr Emma Margrett, Headteacher, Westminster Abbey Choir School, choirschool@westminster-abbey.org. Mr Andrew Nethsingha, Organist and Master of the Choristers, music@westminster-abbey.org.

If you attend worship at the Abbey regularly, you may like to add this page to your home screen for easy access to our orders of service.

Hymn covered by Christian Copyright Licensing (International) Ltd are reproduced under CCL no 1040271 and MRL no 1040288. Common Worship (Church House Publishing, 2000), material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council. Scripture Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version.