Pastyme - Evensong

Prior to the Reformation, Evensong was a common English name for the office of Vespers, one of the eight Canonical Hours of the divine office of the Roman Catholic church. However, in the 1549 Book of Common Prayer adopted during the English Reformation, Bishop Cranmer established the office of Evensong using elements taken from both Vespers and Compline, to be conducted in the English language, as was the case with the entire liturgy. After a series of slight modifications, the office of Evensong took its modern form in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England, a form that is followed very closely in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Evensong, like all forms of liturgical worship, has elements of drama and ritual that nourish the spiritual life of the congregants. It is scripted according to a long history, originating in early Christian and perhaps Judaic evening worship. Evensong is traditionally mostly sung by a choir, with the full congregation participating in the intoning of the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and hymns. As a part of the daily office, it is intended to be part of a regular discipline of worship, when regularly offered.

The structure of Evensong has three basic components: preparation, lessons, and prayer. Preparation occurs through a sung introit, an invitatory, and sometimes confession and absolution. Lessons are from a prescribed lectionary, including a psalm and readings from the Old and New Testaments, and always including the Canticles of Mary (the Magnificat) and Simeon (the Nunc Dimittis). These canticles are particularly powerful because, while taken from the gospels, they mark the transition from the Old to the New Testament and the redemption that the coming of Christ brings to us. Finally, the rubric concludes with prescribed prayers and collects, frequently followed by an anthem for the season. Because most of the service is sung, there is an abundance of music composed specifically for Evensong, including settings of the prayers and the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, from the 16th through the 20th century.

Since its inception, Pastyme has been offering the service of Evensong at a number of Episcopal parishes in the Western North Carolina diocese. We are available for Evensong or other sacred services throughout the region, whether for the Advent or Lenten seasons or other times in the church year.