Lighten our darkness: discovering and celebrating Choral Evensong

One of the unexpected gifts arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and from the temporary disruption of church attendance was the liberation of Choral Evensong from the confines of ancient cathedrals to homes across the globe via livestreaming and YouTube channels. Dr Willis’ warm welcome to Choral Evensong in Canterbury Cathedral was now nuanced to include not only those joining in person in the choir area of the cathedral but also the ‘many joining us online across the world.’ While perhaps primarily intended further to inform and to inspire those encountering Choral Evensong offline in the physical space of cathedrals, parish churches, and college chapels, Simon Reynold’s journey ‘discovering and celebrating Choral Evensong’ could also be commended to those encountering this rich and enriching tradition afresh online and across the world. For Reynolds, Choral Evensong is rooted in an ancient monastic tradition, and remains vibrantly relevant to people today, relevant to those committed to the Christian tradition and equally relevant to those seeking spiritual nourishment in a secular age. Choral Evensong within cathedrals is enriched by the scale of the architecture and by the professionalism of the choral and liturgical presentation. Here is the sense of stability and continuity that opens access to transcendence and to the immense capacities of the human soul. The innovative strength of this well-crafted ‘discovering’ of Choral Evensong resides in the clear analysis of and commentary on the seven-component structure of the event. Reynolds expresses and unwraps the structure in the following way: An acclamation of praise (The Responses); All human life is here (The Psalms); A word once spoken (The Readings); Revelation and retirement (The Canticles); The cries of our hearts (The Lesser Litany, Lord’s Prayer, Preces and Collects); Untold lament and unfettered praise (The Anthem); and Sounding the depths (The Prayers of Intercession, Final Hymn, and Blessing). The analysis within each of these seven sections is followed by a brief anthology or well-chosen words for reflection. Here Gerard Manley Hopkins rubs shoulders with Rowan Williams, John Calvin, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and George Herbert. This is a book to buy once and to keep; thence to buy again and again to give as presents to those who may enjoy and be enriched by deepening appreciation of Choral Evensong.