1662 Choral Evensong:
Calm Contemplation in Inspiring Spaces
One of Emmanuel's best known ministries in the community is offering Choral Evensong from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. This 45-minute Sunday afternoon "period piece," which we usually offer 2-3 times a year, is one of the crown jewels of Anglicanism and a classic model of worship that we are proud to have introduced in Champaign-Urbana.
Evensong from the 1662 Prayer Book creates an artistic setting in which the ‘song’ of voices sounding together in harmony is heard at the ‘even’ point between the active day and the restful night, allowing listeners time for calm contemplation in inspiring spaces. With texts from the English language's greatest prose set by some of history's greatest composers, Evensong offers believers and unbelievers alike an oasis of beauty that is both free of charge and free of demand.
The tradition of singing Evensong goes back in a virtually unbroken line to the middle ages. Tracing its roots to the ancient monastic offices of Vespers and Compline, the service is almost entirely sung and the prayers and music are set to words from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer and the King James Bible.
More information about the history of this uniquely Anglican musical offering, its resurgence in popularity, and what to expect at a 1662 Choral Evensong may be found at http://www.choralevensong.org , a website responding to the growing attendance at such services in the UK. Join us one Sunday at 4pm at the corner of State and University to experience calm contemplation in inspiring spaces.
Evensong from the 1662 Prayer Book creates an artistic setting in which the ‘song’ of voices sounding together in harmony is heard at the ‘even’ point between the active day and the restful night, allowing listeners time for calm contemplation in inspiring spaces. With texts from the English language's greatest prose set by some of history's greatest composers, Evensong offers believers and unbelievers alike an oasis of beauty that is both free of charge and free of demand.
The tradition of singing Evensong goes back in a virtually unbroken line to the middle ages. Tracing its roots to the ancient monastic offices of Vespers and Compline, the service is almost entirely sung and the prayers and music are set to words from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer and the King James Bible.
More information about the history of this uniquely Anglican musical offering, its resurgence in popularity, and what to expect at a 1662 Choral Evensong may be found at http://www.choralevensong.org , a website responding to the growing attendance at such services in the UK. Join us one Sunday at 4pm at the corner of State and University to experience calm contemplation in inspiring spaces.