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Choral Evensong

Sunday 10th September 2023 – 15:15

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God has been worshipped in this place through the prayers and praises of countless generations. Worship lies at the heart of our life as Christians and we express our theology and belief through our liturgy. It is through these liturgical patterns of words and actions that we are formed and transformed.

Should you wish to translate this order of service into another language, please choose your language in the bottom right. There is a guest wireless network available within the Cathedral for those without a mobile data connection.

Please note that this service may be live streamed for our online congregation. By participating in this service, you acknowledge that you may be visible or audible. If you are uncomfortable about this possibility, please speak to a steward or verger, who will be able to advise further.

The ministry of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is made possible entirely through the support of individuals like you. The donations which we receive from people all over the world support our worship and music tradition, education programmes, and community outreach work, as well as contributing towards the vast cost of maintaining this historic building. Should you wish to donate online, please tap the donate button. 

Choral Evensong at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is a tiny fragment of something else: it is part of the worship which is offered to God by people every hour of the day and night, in every corner of the world. When you come to Evensong here, it is as if you are dropping in on a conversation already in progress – a conversation between God and his people. So do not be surprised or concerned if there are some parts that you do not understand straight away.

Evensong is drawn almost entirely from the Bible. Much of the language spoken and sung in this service is that spoken by worshippers more than four hundred years ago. It may sound old-fashioned, but its meaning is not out of date. We invite you to allow the music and words to speak to you in the beauty and peace of this place.

You are invited to say the text in bold in English.

Please stand as the Minister, at the West End of the Cathedral, sings

Let us pray. 

Please remain standing whilst the Choir and Clergy enter the stalls

Please remain standing to sing the

Hymn

1. Hail, O star that pointest
Towards the port of heaven,
Thou to whom as maiden
God for Son was given.

2. When the salutation
Gabriel had spoken,
Peace was shed upon us,
Eva’s bonds were broken.

3. Bound by Satan’s fetters,
Health and vision needing,
God will aid and light us
In our gentle pleading.

4. Jesu’s tender Mother,
Joins our supplication
Unto him who chose her
At his Incarnation;

5. That, O matchless Maiden,
Passing meek and lowly,
Thy dear Son will make us
Blameless, chaste and holy.

6. Father, as we journey,
Aid our weak endeavour,
Till we gaze on Jesus,
And rejoice for ever.

7. Father, Son and Spirit,
Three in One confessing,
Give we equal glory,
Equal praise and blessing.

Latin, tr. Athelstan Riley (1858–1945)

William Henry Monk (1823–89)

Please stand.

The Minister and Choir sing the

Preces & Responses

O Lord, open thou our lips.

And our mouth shall show 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.

Kenneth Leighton (1929–88)

Please sit as the Choir sings the 

PSALM 53

Dixit insipiens.

The foolish body hath said in his heart: There is no God.  Corrupt are they, and become abominable in their wickedness: there is none that doeth good.  God looked down from heaven upon the children of men: to see if there were any, that would understand, and seek after God.  But they are all gone out of the way, they are altogether become abominable: there is also none that doeth good, no not one.  Are not they without understanding that work wickedness: eating up my people as if they would eat bread? they have not called upon God.  They were afraid where no fear was: for God hath broken the bones of him that besieged thee;  Thou hast put them to confusion: because God hath despised them.  O that Salvation were given unto Israel out of Sion: O that the Lord would deliver his people out of captivity!  Then should Jacob rejoice: and Israel should be right glad.

Please stand for

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 sit for the

Ezekiel 12: 21 –13: 16

Please stand as the Choir sings 

Magnificat

The Chichester Service; William Walton (1902–83)

Please sit for the 

Mark 7: 24–37

Please stand as the Choir sings 

Nunc Dimittis

The Chichester Service; William Walton (1902–83)

Please remain standing to say 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 Minister and Choir sing the 

Suffrages & Responses

The Lord be with you.

And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Please kneel or sit, according to your custom

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

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us.

And grant us thy salvation.

O Lord, guide and defend our rulers.

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.

The Minister intones the 

Let thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of thy humble servants; and, that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please thee; 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.

Kenneth Leighton (1929–88)

Please sit as the Choir sings the

Anthem

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm, for love is strong as death, many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.

William Walton (1902–83)

Please remain seated for the 

Sermon

The Reverend M. D. Gardner, M.A.
Prebendary of Maynooth

The Minister says 

Let us pray.

Please kneel or remain seated for the 

Prayers

At the end, 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.

Please stand to sing

Hymn

During this hymn a collection of money is made. If you would like to donate securely online, tap the button below.

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1. Praise to the Holiest in the height,
And in the depth be praise;
In all his words most wonderful,
Most sure in all his ways.

2. O loving wisdom of our God!
When all was sin and shame,
A second Adam to the fight
And to the rescue came.

3. O wisest love! That flesh and blood,
Which did in Adam fail,
Should strive afresh against their foe,
Should strive and should prevail;

4. And that a higher gift than grace
Should flesh and blood refine,
God’s presence, and his very self
And essence all-divine.

5. O generous love! that he who smote
In Man, for man, the foe,
The double agony in Man,
For man, should undergo;

6. And in the garden secretly,
And on the cross on high,
Should teach his brethren, and inspire
To suffer and to die.

7. Praise to the Holiest in the height,
And in the depth be praise;
In all his words most wonderful,
Most sure in all his ways.

Saint John Henry Newman (1801–90)

Thomas Haweis (1734–1820)

Please remain standing for the

Blessing

Please remain at your seat for the duration of the

Organ Voluntary

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