Clergy Notes — March 8, 2026
Evensong was the name given to the evening worship of Vespers in medieval England. It was the office (service) that took place before dark, and which in earlier times had included the lighting of candles.
We are extremely fortunate to be holding this act of worship now on a monthly basis at St. James’, as well as other places. As a lapsed chorister, this was a weekly joy in my formative years. It is different in character to the Eucharist, and includes the reciting of psalms and canticles. These include the Magnificat (sung by Mary when her cousin Elizabeth greeted her as the mother of the Lord), and the Nunc Dimittis (the song of Simeon when he encountered the Christ child in the Temple). Both are thanksgivings for the coming and arrival of Jesus. Whenever I get the chance to be at Evensong, I’m there.
The office is dignified, musical, and enables us to enter more deeply into prayer and spiritual reflection. The psalms and canticles are sung by the choir but there are parts of the service where the congregation takes part. There is a reading from both the Hebrew Scripture (Old Testament) and the New Testament. We say the Apostles’ Creed, sing a couple of hymns, and there are brief prayers as we prepare for the evening and the night ahead.
Evensong concludes with Benediction. This dates from the 11th century as an opportunity to reflect on the mystery of the Eucharist. Christ makes himself known to us in the forms of bread and wine and we take this moment to contemplate and celebrate the meaning of the gift of Christ. In this liturgy the sacred bread of the Eucharist is reverenced before it is used to bless the congregation.
Please come on March 15 at 4:00 pm for Evensong and Benediction; to pray, reflect and feast on the music and the liturgy. It is an excellent way to end the day and be ready for the week that is just beginning.
Father Stephen Rowe