InQuire: Lucernarium, Choral Evensong & Benediction

I might as well make my intentions clear at the outset: I am writing about this because it’s a lovely service and it would be marvellous to see more people attending Evensong throughout the year! It’s sometimes said that Evensong is not ‘congregational’, and that is to some extent true. But congregational members play an important part, even if they are largely participating through listening and praying. They are participating, and are most decidedly not just ‘listening to a concert’. Interestingly, attendance at Choral Evensong in many of our cathedrals is increasing, and this is even truer of Oxbridge College chapels; I remember our ex-Cambridge scholar-in-residence, Paul Newton-Jackson, telling me this – that students were crowding in to Evensongs in College Chapels. It seems that many people, of various faiths or none, may not feel comfortable at a Mass, but love to attend Evensong. Perhaps they are there primarily for the aesthetic experience, of the architecture, beautiful liturgy, timeless texts and lovely music – but that’s fine! Those things have drawn many people to a fuller religious understanding in due course – myself included.

In OSP, from the Sunday after All Saints’ until the Feast of Candlemas, we begin with Lucernarium, or the Blessing of the Light, before proceeding into Evensong and Benediction, (sung every Sunday throughout the year). During this winter period, the whole service is sung by candlelight, which seems to attract people; we sometimes have more in the congregation in January and February than in May and June! The candles are lit at the beginning of the service, and every member of the congregation has one. The priest begins the service with the Blessing of the Light: ‘Light and peace from Jesus Christ our Lord’ and this is followed by the ancient Greek hymn, the Phos Hilaron – ‘Hail, gladdening light’. We sing this to an Anglican chant entitled ‘Sebaste’ by John Stainer. Surprisingly, this has been included in all the Church of Scotland hymnals: it’s in the Church Hymnary (1898), Revised Church Hymnary (1927), CH3 (1973) and CH4 (2005), but I’ve never heard of anyone in the Kirk actually singing it. No doubt it was included in the original 1898 book because the music editor was John Stainer himself! At all events, it makes a very effective opening to this service. (You can hear this on our CD, Sancte Paule Apostole – of which there are still copies available if you are looking for Christmas present ideas!)

Thereafter, the service proceeds in the usual way: through the psalms for the day sung to Anglican chant; office hymn; two scripture lessons and a choral setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis; responses followed by an appropriate anthem; second hymn, followed by the wonderful devotional service of Benediction. We are one of the very few churches in Scotland – the only one? – where this service is regularly sung every week. (Benediction of course has an important place in the Roman Catholic Church, but rarely with full music.)

Most OSP members will be aware that in this liturgy the consecrated host is set and displayed in a monstrance on the altar. After a period of adoration, the priest blesses the people with the Blessed Sacrament. Two Latin hymns are associated with this service: the ‘O salutaris’ and the ‘Tantum ergo’. At OSP we generally sing these in English to familiar hymn tunes, but sometimes to one or other of the many choral settings available. During this period, we also sing the Divine Praises (which you can also hear on our CD).

Can I tempt you to come along? It has to be said that candlelit services do not especially lend themselves to livestreaming, (although of course the sound is fine). Someone complained once that they couldn’t see anything on the livestream as it was too dark; well, with a candlelit service that’s inevitable, so you have to be there! (This year there will be slightly more light, as we will have some of the new heaters on – which I think are very successful, I have to say. But that’s another story.)

In December, as usual, we also have our two Carol Services: Advent Carols on Sunday 1 December, and Christmas Carols on Sunday 22 December. As usual, they will also be in candlelight. Please come along and be part of all of this, if you can.

John Kitchen

Photo Credit (all photos): GF/OSP streaming