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“First, we have to be patient and relaxed enough to allow tradition to have
its say. Then we should allow our own thoughts and feelings to become closer
to us than life outside admits. These two things are not separate. In the
tradition, there are, along with what is strange, strong expressions of our
basic feelings about ourselves and God; and it is precisely the cool and
ancient order of services which gives a space and a frame, as well as cues,
for the reflections on our regrets and hopes and gratitude. The best analogy
of it is in relation to love. There, as here, we find ourselves by attending
to another. So may learn a little of what we need and enjoy everywhere”.
Rev. John Drury’s comments on Evensong.
The service of
Evensong occurred within approximately ten years of the completion by Henry
VIII of King’s College Chapel. The Offices of the medieval church were
reduced to just Morning and Evening prayer.
Evensong is a
conflation of the Roman Catholic Vespers and the late evening office of
Compline. These services can be “recited without note”, however in both
traditions there exists vast quantity’s of music.
Sadly nationwide
this wonderful service and tradition is seriously threatened. During the
first lesson at Guildford Cathedral recently I counted eight worshipers from
the Organ loft. The question looms, how long can this continue? It costs
thousands of pounds each year to heat and light a cathedral and pay for the
choir and organist, and although the services are for the greater glory of
God, there are limits.
The Evangelical
wing of the Church is bursting at the seams, extension building projects and
extra services, and how to fit people in is the problem! Money talks and
these praise and worship services generate money. I don’t wish to create a
picture of them and us but the survival of the traditional evensong is in
reality at risk.
So what can we do
to help? St Mary’s Merton is one of the few Churches I have had the pleasure
of working in that sings evensong regularly. The choir sings different
chants, different canticles and anthems etc. and there is a wide repertoire
of organ music played by various visiting organists. Yet as at
Guildford
many pews are empty. If we value the music, the liturgy and the tradition we
need to attend it to show that it is of value. Assist with the preservation
of this rich tradition by making an effort to attend more frequently, one
could possibly help by joining the friends of Cathedral music, but if we
support from our parishes this will assist the Cathedrals in keeping
Evensong a regular event and will also ensure its survival at St. Mary’s.
It is a great
pleasure to be the Organist at Merton, and I am enjoying the position
greatly!
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