Evensong at Epiphany, with its soaring choral music and gentle atmosphere, is quickly becoming one of our most beloved services for newcomers and long-time parishioners alike. But where did it come from, and how has it evolved through the centuries? As we shared in our “beginner’s guide,” making and sharing resources to help familiarize Seattle with this great Anglican traditions is one of our top priorities in the coming months. To this end, this post explores the fascinating history and enduring traditions that make Choral Evensong a unique spiritual and cultural treasure for the whole world and for our city in particular.
Early Roots and Origins
Evensong has its roots in the daily prayer rhythms of medieval monastic life. Monks and nuns gathered several times daily for communal prayer, including two evening offices: Vespers and Compline. With the English Reformation in the 16th century, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer combined these into a single office—Evening Prayer—enshrined in the 1549 Book of Common Prayer. Click here to watch Epiphany’s Director of Music, Zach Hemenway, share his perspective on this rich history at a Sunday Forum on the subject.
Development of Choral Evensong
While Evening Prayer could be spoken or sung, the tradition of “Choral Evensong” flourished especially in cathedrals, collegiate chapels, and churches with strong music programs. Choirs began to sing large portions of the service—including the canticles, psalms, and responses—often using musical settings by the leading composers of each era. In this way, the growth of Evensong at Epiphany is intimately tied to the growth of Epiphany’s music program, which the parish has been generously supporting through Music at Epiphany and our annual Music Fundraisers.
Traditions That Remain
As Anglicanism spread across the globe, so did Evensong. Despite changes in language, music styles, and even architecture, the core elements of Evensong have endured for nearly 500 years. Many of the words, particularly the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, have changed little since Cranmer’s day.
At Epiphany, Choral Evensong became a weekly service over the past five or so years, making it a unique offering in the Pacific Northwest, where it is more common as an occasional or once-a-month service, if it is celebrated at all. Epiphany is blessed with an exceptional choir, talented music staff, beautiful instruments, and inspiring spaces for music. Music is central to our community, and we are committed to excellence in both repertoire and performance.