Choir sings evensong

The Peninsula Choir is preparing to sing Choral Evensong at St Luke's Anglican Church, Sunday, December 3.

"There will be congregational participation, and the hymns will all be old favourites for that pre-Christmas season," said choir publicity officer Ms Barbara Firth.

"This service has existed since the 17th century, when it was created by Thomas Cranmer from two of the daily offices of the early church, Vespers and Compline," she said.

"Since then, entitled Evening Prayer, it has been used daily in the Anglican tradition from tiny village churches to great cathedrals.

"With the advent of hymn singing, it has been popularly known as Evensong.

"Whenever a choir was available, it became Choral Evensong."

Ms Firth said that because of social changes in recent times, including the growth of radio and television, this form of worship had fallen from favour, except in larger churches and cathedrals with greater resources.

"Visitors to the UK are still delighted to join with choirs where Choral Evensong is sung on week-day as well as Sunday evenings," Ms Firth said.

"The BBC's weekly broadcast of such a service is its longest-running live program."

Press release, November 6 Barbara Firth, The Peninsula Choir