As we cannot offer a full choral evensong to celebrate this Easter feast today, our Director of Religious Music has compiled a virtual evensong for you to enjoy at home. We realise that this isn’t the same as being able to experience the service live, but we hope that the music will provide a source of inspiration and consolation. We live in unusual times, but it is still Easter and we still give thanks for the gift of Jesus.

Prelude: At Eastertide, Sir Charles Villiers Stanford

Introit: Easter from Five Mystical Songs, Ralph Vaughan Williams

Office Hymn: The day of resurrection

Preces: Bernard Rose

Psalm: 105

The First Lesson

A reading from the Song of Solomon

I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please. Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

Here endeth the lesson.

Magnificat: Evening Service in D, Sir George Dyson

The Second Lesson

A reading from Revelation

And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Nunc dimittis: Evening Service in D, Sir George Dyson

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.

Reponses: Bernard Rose

The Collect for Easter Sunday

Almighty God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee, that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.

Anthem: Ye choirs of new Jerusalem, Sir Charles Villiers Stanford

We invite you to spend a moment in private prayer and reflection to offer your own concerns and petitions to God.

Hymn: Jesus Christ is risen today

Postlude: Toccata in F, BWV 540, Johann Sebastian Bach

We are especially grateful to all those choirs who have contributed to online musical resources to make it possible to compile this service. Although our building is closed, our music ministry continues and will continue throughout the coming weeks and months. If you would like to support our work, then you can do so by giving securely online here.