The Church of England church in Hursley Road, St Boniface (SO53 2FT), is one of relatively few parish churches locally that has the service of sung Evensong on most Sundays (at 6.30pm).
The Book of Common Prayer is the basis of the service, although the prayers of intercession are in modern language and concentrate on contemporary events and situations.
Three hymns are sung of a traditional kind, even where, as occasionally, the words are of 20th or 21st century origin. The choir generally sings a short anthem, giving worshippers a time to reflect – and likewise there is quiet organ music before the service begins.
Generally the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis are sung to simple melodies known as ‘chants’, and the congregation is invited to join in. Just occasionally a choral setting is sung.
The psalms are currently sung from the Parish Psalter, but shortly we shall start using The Wessex Psalter, which has exactly the same words but more up-to-date pointing.
There is a sermon (of only moderate length) which refers to one or more of the bible readings, explaining their meaning and/or relating them to the experiences of people today.
Both choir and congregation are interested in welcoming new people. Why not come along one Sunday evening? (However, note that Evensong is not sung on the last Sunday of a month and is occasionally replaced by other services.)
You might want to give it a try, for example, if you used to attend and haven’t been for a while. Or perhaps your own church no longer offers Evensong but you continue to value it?
[…] held a coffee morning, cake stall and raffle recently to help raise funds for new books for the Evensong service (most Sundays at […]