On Sunday afternoon, St. James received a wonderful gift–choral Evensong sung by Furman’s Chamber Choir, accompanied by our own Dr. Charles Tompkins. Evensong is one of the greatest contributions of Anglicanism to Christian worship. Its roots lie in the monastic hours of the Middle Ages, but when Thomas Cranmer prepared the first Book of Common Prayer, he sought to make the discipline of daily prayer available for all Christians. So he collapsed the monastic hours into two services of Morning and Evening Prayer and designed them so that all of the Psalter would be read in a month, and most of the Bible in a year.

Evening Prayer, or Evensong, as it came to be called, became one of the most popular services in many Anglican churches. In the cathedrals, where there were choirs and musicians available, Evening Prayer came to be sung, hence the name, Evensong.

Done well, as it was this past Sunday, Evensong is inspiring and spiritually rich, inviting the listener into a conversation with God through music. Many thanks to all who were involved–especially Dr. Karen Eshelman who organized it; the Furman students who sang, and senior Adam Pajan who took a seat at the organ for the postlude, to Dr. Bill Thomas, who directs the choir, and to Dr. Bill Allen, who was cantor.

I would hope that at some point in the future, St. James could put on its own Evensong and perhaps even make it a regular event.

The BBC broadcasts Evensong each week. Recordings are available here.