Welcome to Westminster Abbey. Daily prayer has been offered in this place for over a thousand years, and your participation in today's service is warmly welcomed. At choral Evensong most of the service is sung by the choir on our behalf. We participate through our presence and our listening, that the words and the music might become a prayer within us and lift us to contemplate God's beauty and glory.

The service always includes one or more psalms. These ancient prayers, taken from the Old Testament, reflect the full range of human emotions and experiences; from the depths of anger, resentment, and abandonment to the heights of ecstatic joy and praise. They were used by Jesus, and have always been at the heart of the Church's daily prayer.

The canticles Magnificat (Luke 1: 46–55) and Nunc dimittis (Luke 2: 29–32) reflect two responses to the Incarnation (God becoming fully human in Jesus Christ). Both speak of the fulfilment of God's promises, not just to 'Abraham and his seed', but also 'to be a light to lighten the Gentiles' (all nations). With their themes of fulfilment and completion, these texts have been given central place for many centuries in the Church's prayers for the evening and at the end of the day.

Please join in saying the words and singing the hymn printed in bold type.

The church is served by a hearing loop. Users should turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T.

Photography, filming, and sound recording are not allowed in the Abbey during services. Please ensure that mobile telephones and other electronic devices are silent.

The service is sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey.

Following the service, a collection will be taken; the money from today's services will be divided equally between Blesma and the work of the Abbey. Blesma helps limbless veterans to keep living fulfilling and independent lives.

Order of Service

The choir sings the Introit

To thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul; my God, I trust in thee.

Words: Psalm 25: 1a
Music: from the 'Liturgy of St John Chrysostom' Op 31, Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943)

All stand as the choir and clergy enter

The officiant says a Sentence of Scripture

All remain standing. The officiant and choir sing the Responses

Music: Richard Ayleward (1626–69)

All sit. The choir sings Psalm 37: 1–20, 40–end

Fret not thyself because of the ungodly : neither be thou envious against the evil-doers.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass : and be withered even as the green herb.
Put thou thy trust in the Lord, and be doing good : dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Delight thou in the Lord : and he shall give thee thy heart's desire.
Commit thy way unto the Lord, and put thy trust in him : and he shall bring it to pass.
He shall make thy righteousness as clear as the light : and thy just dealing as the noon-day.
Hold thee still in the Lord, and abide patiently upon him : but grieve not thyself at him whose way doth prosper, against the man that doeth after evil counsels.
Leave off from wrath, and let go displeasure : fret not thyself, else shalt thou be moved to do evil.
Wicked doers shall be rooted out : and they that patiently abide the Lord, those shall inherit the land.
Yet a little while, and the ungodly shall be clean gone : thou shalt look after his place, and he shall be away.
But the meek-spirited shall possess the earth : and shall be refreshed in the multitude of peace.
The ungodly seeketh counsel against the just : and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
The Lord shall laugh him to scorn : for he hath seen that his day is coming.
The ungodly have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow : to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as are of a right conversation.
Their sword shall go through their own heart : and their bow shall be broken.
A small thing that the righteous hath : is better than great riches of the ungodly.
For the arms of the ungodly shall be broken : and the Lord upholdeth the righteous.
The Lord knoweth the days of the godly : and their inheritance shall endure for ever.
They shall not be confounded in the perilous time : and in the days of dearth they shall have enough.
As for the ungodly, they shall perish; and the enemies of the Lord shall consume as the fat of lambs : yea, even as the smoke, shall they consume away.
But the salvation of the righteous cometh of the Lord : who is also their strength in the time of trouble.
And the Lord shall stand by them, and save them : he shall deliver them from the ungodly, and shall save them, because they put their trust in him.

All stand

Chants: George Martin (1844–1916) and Thomas Attwood (1765–1838)

The congregation remains seated. Members of the Collegiate Body stand. The Canon-designate is conducted from the Jericho Parlour of the Deanery, by the Chapter Clerk, to the east end of Quire

The Dean and Chapter of Westminster assembles in the Lantern to receive the Canon-designate

The Chapter Clerk presents the King's Grant and Mandamus to the Dean. The Dean asks him to read them

His Majesty's Grant and Mandamus having been read, the Canon-designate reads aloud the Latin Declaration

Ego, Mark Russell Birch, Deo teste promitto ac spondeo me veram Christi religionem omni animo amplexurum, Scripturae auctoritatem hominum judiciis praepos-iturum, regulam vitae et summam fidei ex verbo Dei petiturum, caetera quae ex verbo Dei non probantur pro humanis habiturum; auctoritatem Regiam in omnibus summam estimaturum; et contrarias verbo Dei opiniones omni voluntate ac mente refutaturum; vera consuetis, scripta non scriptis, in religionis causa antehabiturum.

Deinde me omnia hujus Collegii statuta, jura, libertates, privilegia, praescriptiones, ritus, et consuetudines laudabiles, quae ad me pertinebunt, servaturum. Praeterea me huic Collegio fidelem futurum, nullum ei damnum aut incommodum allaturum, aliorum consilia, coitiones, conjurationes, facta, et dicta quae detrimentum aut infamiam Collegio inferant, repulsurum. Secreta Capituli me non revelaturum: tum Decano, tum Capitulo in omnibus legitimis honestisque morem gesturum, et dignam debitamque legibus et statutis omnibus reverentiam exhibiturum. Tres menses integros per annum in hoc Collegio residentiam servaturum; neque ullam unquam dispensationem contra hoc meum juramentum quaesiturum, aut ab aliis quaesitam aut ablatam accepturum, aut antehac mihi indulta usurum.

Denique me omnia mihi imposita a Decano et Capitulo munera suscepturum, eaque summa cum diligentia et fide administraturum. Haec omnia in me recipio, Deoque teste me sedulo facturum promitto ac spondeo.

I, Mark Russell Birch, calling God to witness, promise and vow that I will embrace the true religion of Christ with my whole heart, that I will set the authority of Scripture before the judgments of men, that I will seek the rule of life, and the whole of faith from the word of God, and all other things which are not proved by the word of God I will hold to be merely human. That I will hold the authority of The King to be supreme in all things and I will oppose with my whole will and mind opinions contrary to the word of God. That in the cause of religion I will prefer truth to custom, written law to unwritten law.

Moreover that I will preserve all the statutes of this College, as also the rights, liberties, prescribed privileges, ceremonials, and praiseworthy customs, so far as they concern me. Also that I will be faithful to this College and will bring upon it no harm or hurt. That I will repel all counsels, plots, conspiracies, deeds, and words of others which may bring damage or disgrace upon the College. That I will not reveal the secrets of the Chapter. Moreover that I will obey both Dean and Chapter in all lawful and honourable things, and that I will show worthy and due reverence to all laws and statutes. That I will keep residence in the College three full months in the year; nor will I seek any dispensation contrary to this my oath or accept one sought or offered by others, or make use of one granted to me before this.

Finally that I will undertake all duties imposed on me by the Dean and Chapter, and perform the same with the greatest diligence and good faith. All these things I take upon myself, and calling God to witness promise and vow that I will faithfully perform.

The Canons of Westminster return to their stalls. The Dean conducts the new Canon to the vacant stall, and placing him therein says

Cape hanc sedem, ut Dei gloriam tua auctoritate et exemplo illustres, et Corpus Christi in hac Ecclesia aedificandum diligenter cures: quod ut efficaciter praestes, Spiritus Sancti gratiam tibi largiatur Dominus. Amen.

Let us pray.

All stand

Almighty God, by whose providence thy servant Mark is constituted Canon of this Collegiate Church: give unto him such a measure of thy grace, that what he hath here openly promised, and whatsoever his office doth demand, he may most faithfully perform, to the praise and glory of thy name and the enlargement of thy Church: through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

All sit for the first Lesson, Exodus 23: 1–9

You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with the wicked to act as a malicious witness. You shall not follow a majority in wrongdoing; when you bear witness in a lawsuit, you shall not side with the majority so as to pervert justice; nor shall you be partial to the poor in a lawsuit.

When you come upon your enemy's ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back.

When you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden and you would hold back from setting it free, you must help to set it free.

You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in their lawsuits. Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent or those in the right, for I will not acquit the guilty. You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the officials, and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.

You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

Here ends the first lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Magnificat

Evening Service in F, John Ireland (1879–1962)

All sit for the second Lesson, Matthew 19: 1–15

Jesus left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he cured them there.

Some Pharisees came to him, and to test him they asked, 'Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?' He answered, 'Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning "made them male and female", and said, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh"? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.' They said to him, 'Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?' He said to them, 'It was because you were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but at the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery.'

His disciples said to him, 'If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.' But he said to them, 'Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.'

Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.' And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

Here ends the second lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Nunc dimittis

Evening Service in F, John Ireland

All face east to say together the Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth:
and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell;
the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic Church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

The officiant and choir sing the Lesser Litany; the Lord's Prayer and the Responses

Let us pray.

All kneel or sit

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The officiant sings the Collects; of the day, for peace, and for aid against all perils

O God, our refuge and strength, who art the author of all godliness; be ready, we beseech thee, to hear the devout prayers of thy Church; and grant that those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed; give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both, our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that, by thee, we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Music: Richard Ayleward

All sit. The choir sings the Anthem

O sing unto the Lord a new song,
   for he hath done marvellous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
   hath gotten him the victory.
The Lord hath made known his salvation;
   his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
He hath remembered his mercy and truth
   toward the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
   the salvation of our God.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth;
   make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
Sing unto the Lord with the harp,
   and the voice of a psalm.
With trumpets and sound of cornet
   make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.

Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof;
   the world, and they that dwell therein.
Let the floods clap their hands;
   let the hills be joyful together
before the Lord, for he cometh
   to judge the earth.
With righteousness shall he judge the world,
   and the people with equity.

Rejoice, and sing praise.

Words: Psalm 98
Music: Cecilia McDowall (b 1951)

All kneel or remain seated for the Intercessions

The officiant says the Prayers; for the Royal Family, and for the Members of the Order of the Bath

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless our most gracious Sovereign Lord King Charles, Queen Camilla, William Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the Royal Family: endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God save our Gracious Sovereign, and all the Members of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath living and departed. Amen.

All say

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.
Amen.

The Sermon by The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle KCVO MBE, Dean of Westminster

All stand to sing the Hymn

King of glory, King of peace,
   I will love thee;
and that love may never cease,
   I will move thee.
Thou hast granted my request,
   thou hast heard me;
thou didst note my working breast,
   thou hast spared me.

Wherefore with my utmost art
   I will sing thee,
and the cream of all my heart
   I will bring thee.
Though my sins against me cried,
   thou didst clear me;
and alone, when they replied,
   thou didst hear me.

Seven whole days, not one in seven,
   I will praise thee;
in my heart, though not in heaven,
   I can raise thee.
Small it is, in this poor sort
   to enrol thee:
e'en eternity's too short
   to extol thee.

Words: 'Praise' (ii) in 'The Temple' George Herbert (1593–1633)
Tune: 'Gwalchmai' 391 NEH, Joseph David Jones (1827–70)

The Dean pronounces the Blessing

All remain standing as the choir and clergy depart

Music after the service

Nun danket alle Gott Op 65 no 13, Sigfrid Karg-Elert (1877–1933)

Those who wish to may sit for the remainder of the organ voluntary

Choristerships at Westminster Abbey

St Margaret's Choristers

If you have a daughter aged 10 or 11 who would like to sing with the St Margaret's Choristers, please contact Greg Morris, Director of Music, St Margaret's Church, [email protected]. Find out more about Music at St Margaret's Church.

The Choir of Westminster Abbey

If you have a son who enjoys singing, you can find out more information about our world-renowned Abbey Choir and its unique Choir School. 

Alternatively, please contact Dr Emma Margrett, Headteacher, Westminster Abbey Choir School, [email protected]. Mr Andrew Nethsingha, Organist and Master of the Choristers, [email protected].

If you attend worship at the Abbey regularly, you may like to add this page to your home screen for easy access to our orders of service.

Hymn covered by Christian Copyright Licensing (International) Ltd are reproduced under CCL no 1040271 and MRL no 1040288. Common Worship (Church House Publishing, 2000), material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council. Scripture Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version.