Choral services

Sung prayer has been offered in Westminster Abbey nearly every day for over a thousand years. Today, services are sung daily during term time by the world-renowned Choir of Westminster Abbey, and by visiting choirs when the Abbey Choir is in recess.

The music sung ranges from Gregorian chant dating from the first millennium to contemporary music and encompasses the remarkable richness and variety of the Anglican choral tradition.

This week's choral services

All services|Organ recitals
22nd - 28th March 2026
Sunday, 22nd March 2026
Fifth Sunday of Lent (Passiontide begins)
10.00am Matins Quire
sung by the Lay Vicars of Westminster Abbey

plainsong Responses
plainsong Benedicite
Parsley Benedictus
Leighten Aus der Tiefe
Order of Service available View Order of Service
11.15am Sung Eucharist Quire
sung by the Lay Vicars of Westminster Abbey

Guerrero Missa Inter vestibulum
Venturi del Nibbio Adoramus te Christe
Bach Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist

Preacher: The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle KCVO MBE Dean of Westminster
Order of Service available View Order of Service
3.00pm Evensong Quire
sung by the Lay Vicars of Westminster Abbey

plainsong Vexilla regis prodeunt
plainsong Responses
Ortiz Magnificat primi toni
plainsong Nunc dimittis tertii toni
Byrd Tribulationes civitatum audivimus
Böhm Ach wie nichtig, ach wie flüchtig

Preacher: The Reverend Dr Allan Palanna Commonwealth Theologian in Residence
Order of Service available View Order of Service
Video available Watch this service
6.00pm Sung Eucharist St Margaret's Church
sung by the St Margaret's Choristers

Rheinberger Missa puerorum
Pergolesi Quando corpus morietur
Bach Ebarm dich mein, o Herre Gott

Preacher: The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle KCVO MBE Dean of Westminster
Order of Service available View Order of Service
Monday, 23rd March 2026
5.00pm Evensong Quire
sung by the Lay Vicars of Westminster Abbey; attended by the High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

plainsong Vexilla regis prodeunt
plainsong Responses
Palestrina Magnificat sexti toni
plainsong Nunc dimittis secundi toni
Palestrina Super flumina Babylonis illic sedimus et flevimus
Order of Service available View Order of Service
Tuesday, 24th March 2026
Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, martyr, 1980
Elizabeth I, Queen of England, founder of the College of St Peter at Westminster, 1603
5.00pm First Evensong of the Annunciation of Our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary Quire
sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey

Byrd Ave Maria
Morley Responses
Stanford Evening Service in G
Bruckner Ave Maria
Order of Service available View Order of Service
Wednesday, 25th March 2026
THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LORD TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
5.00pm Sung Eucharist High Altar
sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey

Victoria Missa Ave Maris Stella
Byrd Ave Maria
Tournemire tr Duruflé Fantaisie-Improvisation sur l'Ave Maris Stella

Preacher: The Reverend Dr James Hawkey Canon Theologian and Almoner
Order of Service available View Order of Service
Video available Watch this service
Friday, 27th March 2026
5.00pm Evensong Quire
sung by the Lay Vicars of Westminster Abbey; attended by the Deputy High Commissioner of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

plainsong Vexilla regis prodeunt
plainsong Responses
plainsong Magnificat ia
plainsong Nunc dimittis iv
Parsley The Lamentations of Jeremiah
Order of Service available View Order of Service
Saturday, 28th March 2026
5.00pm Evensong Quire
sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey

plainsong Vexilla regis prodeunt
Morley Responses
Tomkins The Fifth Service
Poulenc Vinea mea electa
Dupré Prelude and Fugue in G minor
Order of Service available View Order of Service

Everyone is welcome at these services, free of charge. Security checks are in place upon entry.