Choral Evensong

From the Book of Common Prayer

Holy Cross Day

Monday 14 September 2026, 5.30pm

Choir: The Schola Cantorum and Lay Clerks

Responses: Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656)

Setting: Short Service — Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623)

Anthem: Adoramus te, Christe — Orlande de Lassus (1532-1594)

Voluntary: Vexilla Regis prodeunt — John Bull (c.1562-1628)

Welcome to Southwark Cathedral

A member of the Community of the Cross of Nails

Electronic Devices

Please ensure that all electronic devices are switched to silent.

Photography

Photography and video recording of the Choir is not permitted.

You are welcome to take photographs of the Cathedral but please do not take any photographs or videos during the service.

Hearing Loop

Please switch your device to 'T'.

Posture

The instructions in this booklet are not prescriptive. Please sit if that is more appropriate for you.

Donations

There are several donation points in the Cathedral where you can make your donation, or you can simply scan or tap the QR code, or text SOUTHWARK (Amount) to 70085 (one standard rate message is also charged). Thank you very much for your generous support of the Cathedral.

You can also support the Cathedral by buying your books from the ethical online bookseller bookshop.org and designating Southwark Cathedral shop for the 30% of purchase price donation they offer us.

Choral Evensong from the Book of Common Prayer

Wherever you are from, and however you have come to be here, you are so very welcome. Our service lasts about forty minutes and is led by our Choir and clergy. This gives you the opportunity to listen to some beautifully sung choral music, to be still at the end of the day and to reflect in a place where others have brought their joys and concerns to God over many centuries.

Can I join the congregation?

Yes, of course: if you would like to stay for the whole service, you are welcome to sit in the seats beyond the stalls where the Choir is singing, or if you have only a few minutes feel free to just sit in the nave and let the space and the music communicate something of God's beauty beyond all words.

Do I have to say or do anything?

There are places where the congregation is invited to stand and you may like to do this, but it is fine if you prefer to remain seated. You will be invited to join in with some spoken parts, printed in bold in this booklet, but you don't have to.

May I take photographs?

Please don't take photographs so we can keep the atmosphere peaceful and the space safe. We often have children singing so you can't take pictures of the service or Choir rehearsal beforehand, though you are most welcome to take pictures after the service.

May I come back to attend this service on another day?

Of course! Choral Evensong usually takes place in school term time on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 5.30pm, on some Saturdays at 4.00pm and on Sundays at 3.00pm. Do check the Cathedral website just to be sure; sometimes we have to vary our usual routine.

What's the aim of the service?

Choral Evensong is an opportunity to worship God and experience God's loving welcome in a holy space that can feel like a window on heaven.

What is Choral Evensong?

Choral Evensong is a form of worship which is several hundred years old and is unique to the Anglican Church. To be at Choral Evensong is like dropping in on a conversation which is already in progress – a conversation between God and human beings which began long before we were born and will go on long after we are dead. So do not be surprised, or disturbed, if there are some things in the conversation which you do not understand at first. The text of the service is drawn almost entirely from the Bible. Its main purpose is to proclaim the wonderful works of God in history and in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It also invites those who worship to respond with praise and penitence, prayer and obedience.

The service is in three parts.

The first part, which is very brief, prepares us for the story which is to follow.

The second part is the story of what God has done (and continues to do) to save his people, beginning in the Old Testament (the Psalm and the First Reading), then moving to the New Testament (the Magnificat, the Second Reading and the Nunc Dimittis) and reaching its climax as we affirm our faith in the words of the Apostles' Creed.

The third part is our human response to the God who has revealed himself in history, in Jesus Christ and in the Church.

Why does the Choir have so much to do and the congregation so little?

Whether it's your first language or not, music has a particular power, reaching out to express truths beyond words. In worship this can happen through the simplicity of a well-known hymn sung together, or as highly skilled musicians offer something more elaborate on behalf of everyone else. This is the pattern at Choral Evensong. The Choir and organist work in partnership with the building to point us towards the beauty of God that is our source and inspiration, and the congregation are freed to rest and rejoice in God's presence.

We are so glad that you are here and hope that you find the service enriching.

Choral Evensong from the Book of Common Prayer

Please stand as the Procession enters.

Welcome

The Minister welcomes the congregation.

Then, the Minister and Choir sing:

The Preces

Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656)

O Lord, open thou our lips And our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

O God, make speed to save us; O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son; and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be; world without end. Amen.

Praise ye the Lord; The Lord's name be praised.

The Psalm

Please be seated as the Choir sings:

Psalm 110

1 The Lord said unto my Lord : Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

2 The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion : be thou ruler, even in the midst among thine enemies.

3 In the day of thy power shall the people offer thee free-will offerings with an holy worship : the dew of thy birth is of the womb of the morning.

4 The Lord sware, and will not repent : Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech.

5 The Lord upon thy right hand : shall wound even kings in the day of his wrath.

6 He shall judge among the heathen; he shall fill the places with the dead bodies : and smite in sunder the heads over divers countries.

7 He shall drink of the brook in the way : therefore shall he lift up his head.

Psalm 150

1 O praise God in his holiness : praise him in the firmament of his power.

2 Praise him in his noble acts : praise him according to his excellent greatness.

3 Praise him in the sound of the trumpet : praise him upon the lute and harp.

4 Praise him in the cymbals and dances : praise him upon the strings and pipe.

5 Praise him upon the well-tuned cymbals : praise him upon the loud cymbals.

6 Let every thing that hath breath : praise the Lord.

Please stand.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Please be seated.

The First Lesson

Isaiah 63.1-16

The First Lesson is written in the sixty-third chapter of the Book of Isaiah, beginning at the first verse.

‘Who is this that comes from Edom, from Bozrah in garments stained crimson? Who is this so splendidly robed, marching in his great might?’ ‘It is I, announcing vindication, mighty to save.’ ‘Why are your robes red, and your garments like theirs who tread the wine press?’ ‘I have trodden the wine press alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their juice spattered on my garments, and stained all my robes. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year for my redeeming work had come. I looked, but there was no helper; I stared, but there was no one to sustain me; so my own arm brought me victory, and my wrath sustained me. I trampled down peoples in my anger, I crushed them in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.’ I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord, the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, because of all that the Lord has done for us, and the great favour to the house of Israel that he has shown them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his steadfast love. For he said, ‘Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely’; and he became their saviour in all their distress. It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled and grieved his holy spirit; therefore he became their enemy; he himself fought against them. Then they remembered the days of old, of Moses his servant. Where is the one who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is the one who put within them his holy spirit, who caused his glorious arm to march at the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to make for himself an everlasting name, who led them through the depths? Like a horse in the desert, they did not stumble. Like cattle that go down into the valley, the spirit of the Lord gave them rest. Thus you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name. Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and glorious habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The yearning of your heart and your compassion? They are withheld from me. For you are our father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O Lord, are our father; our Redeemer from of old is your name.

Here ends the First Lesson.

The Magnificat

Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623)

Please stand as the Choir sings:

The Song of Mary is found in Luke's Gospel. Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is also pregnant with John the Baptist. Mary's greeting to Elizabeth causes the baby to leap in Elizabeth's womb. Elizabeth blesses Mary and, in return, Mary sings the Magnificat. The name 'Magnificat' comes from the Latin translation of the first line; 'Magnificat anima mea Dominum' – 'my soul magnifies the Lord'. Mary sings of God's holiness and power, God's concern for the poor and judgment of the rich, the fulfilment of God's promises and the redemption of God's people.

My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his hand-maiden.

For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations.

He hath shewed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.

He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost:

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Please be seated for:

The Second Lesson

1 Corinthians 1.18-25

The Second Lesson is written in the first chapter of the first Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, beginning at the eighteenth verse.

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,

‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Here ends the Second Lesson.

The Nunc Dimittis

Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623)

Please stand as the Choir sings:

The Nunc Dimittis, or the Song of Simeon, is also found in Luke's Gospel. A man in Jerusalem named Simeon had waited many years for the coming of the Messiah and was told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen him. Simeon went to the temple and saw Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus, whom they had come to present to God. Simeon held Jesus in his arms and praised God, singing of his salvation for all people. Having seen the Messiah, Simeon could now depart ('Nunc dimittis') in peace.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace: according to thy word.

For mine eyes have seen: thy salvation;

Which thou hast prepared: before the face of all people;

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles: and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost:

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

The Apostles' Creed

All 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 Lesser Litany

The Minister and Choir sing:

The Lord be with you; And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Please be seated or kneel.

Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.

The Lord's Prayer

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 Responses

Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656)

O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us; And grant us thy salvation.

O Lord, save the King; And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.

Endue thy ministers with righteousness; And make thy chosen people joyful.

O Lord, save thy people; And bless thine inheritance.

Give peace in our time, O Lord; Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.

O God, make clean our hearts within us; And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

Followed by:

The Collects

The Collect for the Day

Almighty God, who in the passion of your blessed Son made an instrument of painful death to be for us the means of life and peace: grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ that we may gladly suffer for his sake; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Second Collect at Evening Prayer

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.

The Third Collect, for Aid Against All Perils

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.

Please be seated as the Choir sings:

The Anthem

Adoramus te, Christe • Orlande de Lassus (1532-1594) • Antiphon for Good Friday

Adoramus te, Christe et benedicimus tibi. Quia per tuam sanctam crucem redemisti mundum. Domine, miserere nobis.

We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee, because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world. O Lord, have mercy upon us.

The Prayers of Intercession

Please remain seated or kneel for:

The prayers conclude with:

All 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.

please stand for:

The Hymn

NEH 79

The royal banners forward go, The Cross shines forth in mystic glow, Where he in flesh, our flesh who made, Our sentence bore, our ransom paid.

Where deep for us the spear was dyed, Life’s torrent rushing from his side, To wash us in that precious flood, Where mingled water flowed, and blood.

Fulfilled is all that David told In true prophetic song of old, The universal Lord is he, Who reigns and triumphs from the tree.

O Tree of beauty, Tree of light, O Tree with royal purple dight, Elect on whose triumphal breast Those holy limbs should find their rest!

On whose dear arms, so widely flung, The weight of this world’s ransom hung, The price of humankind to pay And spoil the spoiler of his prey.

O Cross, our one reliance, hail! So may thy power with us prevail To give new virtue to the saint, And pardon to the penitent.

To thee, eternal Three in One, Let homage meet by all be done: Whom by thy Cross thou dost restore, Preserve and govern evermore. Amen.

Tune: Gonfalon Royal — Percy Buck (1871-1947) Text: Venantius Fortunatus (530-609), translated J. M. Neale (1818-1866)

The Blessing

Please remain standing as the Choir and clergy depart.

Voluntary

Vexilla Regis prodeunt • John Bull (c.1562-1628)

Thank you for joining us. Please consider supporting us with a gift. You can donate to the Cathedral by using the donation points. Alternatively, you can scan the QR code, visit southwarkcathedral.org.uk/support-us/ or text SOUTHWARK (amount) to 70085 (one standard rate message also charged). Thank you for any support that you are able to give.

Acknowledgements

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000.

All words covered by the Christian Copyright Licensing have been reproduced under CCL licence no. 223439 and livestreaming licence 145859.

The Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches in the USA: Scripture quotations from The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible © 1989 The Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Making space for love

with heart, mind, and soul

It is good to welcome you to Southwark Cathedral. Set on the south bank of the River Thames, in one of the most vibrant and diverse communities in London, this building has been a constant witness in a place of change.

The first church was built on this site around the year 606. First a convent, then a monastery, it became in 1106 the Augustinian Priory of St Mary Overie ('over-the-river'). With Westminster Abbey and St Bartholomew the Great in Smithfield, it is one of the three remaining great monastic churches of London. At the Reformation, the Priory became a parish church, and it remains so for the people of Bankside. In 1905, as south London was rapidly expanding, the church was consecrated as the Cathedral for the new Diocese of Southwark.

The Cathedral has a momentous and significant history and has had links with many famous and influential characters including St Thomas Becket, Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens. It has also been a Cathedral for those who feel on the edges of faith or society, our welcome reaching out to all people in their beautiful God-given diversity.

Here, our Christian faith is captured in our vision to 'make space for love: with heart, mind, and soul'. Faith requires our hearts to stand up for social justice, upholding integrity and kindness, and supporting the vulnerable and oppressed. It challenges our thinking, inviting our minds to be enquiring, honest, and generous. Faith also seeks to deepen our inner lives, with the arts and creativity, by sharing in the life of our community, and by learning the arts of prayer and attention. In Jesus Christ we see the human face of God, and our faith in him is our joy and our life.

We really hope you enjoy being here with us today and that we will see you again very soon.

Southwark Cathedral London Bridge London SE1 9DA

+44 (0)20 7367 6700 southwarkcathedral.org.uk

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