Welcome to Westminster Abbey. Daily prayer has been offered in this place for over a thousand years, and your participation in today's service is warmly welcomed. At choral Evensong most of the service is sung by the choir on our behalf. We participate through our presence and our listening, that the words and the music might become a prayer within us and lift us to contemplate God's beauty and glory.

The service always includes one or more psalms. These ancient prayers, taken from the Old Testament, reflect the full range of human emotions and experiences; from the depths of anger, resentment, and abandonment to the heights of ecstatic joy and praise. They were used by Jesus, and have always been at the heart of the Church's daily prayer.

The canticles Magnificat (Luke 1: 46–55) and Nunc dimittis (Luke 2: 29–32) reflect two responses to the Incarnation (God becoming fully human in Jesus Christ). Both speak of the fulfilment of God's promises, not just to 'Abraham and his seed', but also 'to be a light to lighten the Gentiles' (all nations). With their themes of fulfilment and completion, these texts have been given central place for many centuries in the Church's prayers for the evening and at the end of the day.

Please join in saying the words and singing the hymns printed in bold type.

The church is served by a hearing loop. Users should turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T.

Photography, filming, and sound recording are not allowed in the Abbey during services. Please ensure that mobile telephones and other electronic devices are silent.

The service is sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey.

During the final hymn, a collection will be taken; it will be divided equally between St John's Hospice and the work of the Abbey. St John's Hospice is committed to celebrating and amplifying life, enabling people to live well for as long as possible.

Order of Service

The choir sings the Introit

Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Words: 1 Corinthians 15: 21–22

Music: George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) from 'Messiah' HWV 56

The officiant says a sentence of Scripture

All remain standing. The officiant and choir sing the Responses

Music: Bernard Rose (1916–96)

All sit. The choir sings Psalm 66: 1–11

O be joyful in God, all ye lands : sing praises unto the honour of his name, make his praise to be glorious.
Say unto God, O how wonderful art thou in thy works : through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies be found liars unto thee.
For all the world shall worship thee : sing of thee, and praise thy name.
O come hither, and behold the works of God : how wonderful he is in his doing toward the children of men.
He turned the sea into dry land : so that they went through the water on foot; there did we rejoice thereof.
He ruleth with his power for ever; his eyes behold the people : and such as will not believe shall not be able to exalt themselves.
O praise our God, ye people : and make the voice of his praise to be heard;
Who holdeth our soul in life : and suffereth not our feet to slip.
For thou, O God, hast proved us : thou also hast tried us, like as silver is tried.
Thou broughtest us into the snare : and laidest trouble upon our loins.
Thou sufferedst men to ride over our heads : we went through fire and water, and thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

All stand

Chant: Ivor Atkins (1869–1953)

The congregation sits. Members of the Collegiate Body remain standing

The Canon-designate is conducted from the Jericho Parlour of the Deanery, by the Chapter Clerk, to the east end of Quire

The Dean and Chapter of Westminster assembles in the Lantern to receive the Canon-designate

The Chapter Clerk presents the King's Grant and Mandamus to the Dean. The Dean asks him to read them

His Majesty's Grant and Mandamus having been read, the Canon-designate reads aloud the Latin Declaration

Ego, Jennifer Helen Adams-Massmann, Deo teste promitto ac spondeo me veram Christi religionem omni animo amplexuram, Scripturae auctoritatem hominum judiciis praeposituram, regulam vitae et summam fidei ex verbo Dei petituram, caetera quae ex verbo Dei non probantur pro humanis habituram; auctoritatem Regiam in omnibus summam estimaturam; et contrarias verbo Dei opiniones omni voluntate ac mente refutaturam; vera consuetis, scripta non scriptis, in religionis causa antehabituram.

Deinde me omnia hujus Collegii statuta, jura, libertates, privilegia, praescriptiones, ritus, et consuetudines laudabiles, quae ad me pertinebunt, servaturam. Praeterea me huic Collegio fidelem futuram, nullum ei damnum aut incommodum allaturam, aliorum consilia, coitiones, conjurationes, facta et dicta quae detrimentum aut infamiam Collegio inferant, repulsuram. Secreta Capituli me non revelaturam: tum Decano, tum Capitulo in omnibus legitimis honestisque morem gesturam, et dignam debitamque legibus et statutis omnibus reverentiam exhibituram. Tres menses integros per annum in hoc Collegio residentiam servaturam; neque ullam unquam dispensationem contra hoc meum juramentum quaesituram, aut ab aliis quaesitam aut ablatam accepturam, aut antehac mihi indulta usuram.

Denique me omnia mihi imposita a Decano et Capitulo munera suscepturam, eaque summa cum diligentia et fide administraturam. Haec omnia in me recipio, Deoque teste me sedulo facturam promitto ac spondeo.

I, Jennifer Helen Adams-Massmann, calling God to witness promise and vow that I will embrace the true religion of Christ with my whole heart, that I will set the authority of Scripture before the judgments of men, that I will seek the rule of life, and the whole of faith from the word of God, and all other things which are not proved by the word of God I will hold to be merely human. That I will hold the authority of The King to be supreme in all things and I will oppose with my whole will and mind opinions contrary to the word of God. That in the cause of religion I will prefer truth to custom, written law to unwritten law.

Moreover that I will preserve all the statutes of this College, as also the rights, liberties, prescribed privileges, ceremonials and praiseworthy customs, so far as they concern me. Also that I will be faithful to this College and will bring upon it no harm or hurt. That I will repel all counsels, plots, conspiracies, deeds and words of others which may bring damage or disgrace upon the College. That I will not reveal the secrets of the Chapter. Moreover that I will obey the Dean and the Chapter in all lawful and honourable things, and that I will show worthy and due reverence to all laws and statutes. That I will keep residence in the College three full months in the year; nor will I seek any dispensation contrary to this my oath or accept one sought or offered by others, or make use of one granted to me before this.

Finally that I will undertake all duties imposed on me by the Dean and Chapter, and perform the same with the greatest diligence and good faith. All these things I take upon myself, and calling God to witness promise and vow that I will faithfully perform.

The Canons of Westminster return to their stalls. The Dean conducts the new Canon to the vacant stall, and placing her therein says

Cape hanc sedem, ut Dei gloriam tua auctoritate et exemplo illustres, et Corpus Christi in hac Ecclesia aedificandum diligenter cures: quod ut efficaciter praestes, Spiritus Sancti gratiam tibi largiatur Dominus. Amen.

Take this stall, that you may set forth the glory of God by your authority and example and make it your chief concern to build up the Body of Christ in this Church; and that you may the more effectively perform this, may the Lord endow you bountifully with the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray.

All stand

Almighty God, by whose providence thy servant Jennifer is constituted Canon of this Collegiate Church: give unto her such a measure of thy grace, that what she hath here openly promised, and whatsoever her office doth demand, she may most faithfully perform, to the praise and glory of thy name and the enlargement of thy Church: through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

All sit for the first Lesson, Isaiah 43: 1–21

Thus says the Lord,
   he who created you, O Jacob,
   he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
   I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
   and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
   and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
  the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
   Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my sight,
   and honoured, and I love you,
I give people in return for you,
   nations in exchange for your life.
Do not fear, for I am with you;
   I will bring your offspring from the east,
   and from the west I will gather you;
I will say to the north, 'Give them up',
   and to the south, 'Do not withhold;
bring my sons from far away
   and my daughters from the end of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
   whom I created for my glory,
   whom I formed and made.'

Bring forth the people who are blind, yet have eyes,
   who are deaf, yet have ears!
Let all the nations gather together,
   and let the peoples assemble.
Who among them declared this,
   and foretold to us the former things?
Let them bring their witnesses to justify them,
   and let them hear and say, 'It is true.'
You are my witnesses, says the Lord,
   and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
   and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
   nor shall there be any after me.
I, I am the Lord,
   and besides me there is no saviour.
I declared and saved and proclaimed,
   when there was no strange god among you;
   and you are my witnesses, says the Lord.
I am God, and also henceforth I am He;
   there is no one who can deliver from my hand;
   I work and who can hinder it?

Thus says the Lord,
   your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
For your sake I will send to Babylon
   and break down all the bars,
   and the shouting of the Chaldeans will be turned to lamentation.
I am the Lord, your Holy One,
   the Creator of Israel, your King.
Thus says the Lord,
   who makes a way in the sea,
   a path in the mighty waters,
who brings out chariot and horse,
   army and warrior;
they lie down, they cannot rise,
   they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
Do not remember the former things,
   or consider the things of old.
I am about to do a new thing;
   now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
   and rivers in the desert.
The wild animals will honour me,
   the jackals and the ostriches;
for I give water in the wilderness,
   rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
   the people whom I formed for myself
so that they might declare my praise.

Here ends the first lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Magnificat

Evening Service in C, Charles Villiers Stanford (1852–1924)

All sit for the second Lesson, John 20: 19–23

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.' When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'

Here ends the second lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Nunc dimittis

Evening Service in C, Charles Villiers Stanford

All face east to say together 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 officiant and choir sing the Lesser Litany; the Lord's Prayer and the Responses

Let us pray.

All kneel or sit

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 officiant sings the Collects; of the day, for peace, and for aid against all perils

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. 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.

Music: Bernard Rose

All sit. The choir sings the Anthem

Dum transisset Sabbatum Maria Magdelene et Maria Jacobi et Salome emerunt aromata ut venientes ungerent Jesum. Alleluia!

Et valde mane una sabbatorum veniunt ad monumentum orto iam sole; ut venientes ungerent Jesum. Alleluia!

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Alleluia!

When the Sabbath was over Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices so that they might come and anoint Jesus. Alleluia!

And very early on the first day of the week they came to the tomb when the sun had risen, so that they might come and anoint Jesus. Alleluia!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Alleluia!

Words: Responsory for Easter Day
Music: John Taverner (c 1490–1545)

All kneel or remain seated for the Intercessions

The officiant says the Prayers; for the Royal Family, and for the Members of the Order of the Bath

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless our most gracious Sovereign Lord King Charles, Queen Camilla, William Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the Royal Family: endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God save our Gracious Sovereign, and all the Members of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath living and departed. Amen.

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.

All stand to sing the Hymn

Christ the Lord is risen again!
Christ hath broken every chain!
Hark, the angels shout for joy,
singing evermore on high,
   Alleluia!

He who gave for us his life,
who for us endured the strife,
is our Paschal Lamb to-day!
We too sing for joy, and say
   Alleluia!

He who bore all pain and loss
comfortless upon the cross,
lives in glory now on high,
pleads for us, and hears our cry.
   Alleluia!

He whose path no records tell,
who descended into hell;
who the strong man armed hath bound,
now in highest heaven is crowned.
   Alleluia!

Now he bids us tell abroad
how the lost may be restored,
how the penitent forgiven,
how we too may enter heaven.
   Alleluia!

Thou, our Paschal Lamb indeed,
Christ, to-day thy people feed;
take our sins and guilt away,
that we all may sing for ay,
   Alleluia!

Words: 'Christus ist erstanden' Michael Weiße (c 1480–1534) translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827–78)
Tune: 'Orientis partibus' 105i NEH, medieval French melody

The Sermon by The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle KCVO MBE, Dean of Westminster

All stand to sing the Hymn during which a collection will be taken. Alternatively, cash and contactless donations may be given as you leave via the Great West Door

Alleluia! Alleluia!
   Hearts to heaven and voices raise;
sing to God a hymn of gladness,
   sing to God a hymn of praise;
he who on the cross a victim
   for the world's salvation bled,
Jesus Christ, the King of glory,
   now is risen from the dead.

Christ is risen, Christ the first-fruits
   of the holy harvest field,
which will all its full abundance
   at his second coming yield;
then the golden ears of harvest
   will their heads before him wave,
ripened by his glorious sunshine
   from the furrows of the grave.

Christ is risen, we are risen;
   shed upon us heavenly grace,
rain, and dew, and gleams of glory
   from the brightness of thy face;
that we, Lord, with hearts in heaven
   here on earth may fruitful be,
and by angel-hands be gathered,
   and be ever safe with thee.

Alleluia! Alleluia!
   Glory be to God on high;
to the Father, and the Saviour,
   who has gained the victory;
glory to the Holy Spirit,
   fount of love and sanctity;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
   to the Triune Majesty.
      Amen.

Tune: Lux eoi 103 NEH Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900)
Words: Christopher Wordsworth (1807–85) Canon of Westminster 1844–69

The Blessing. All respond Amen.

All remain standing as the clergy depart

Music after the service

Toccata in D, Marcel Lanquetuit (1894–1985)

Those who wish to may sit for the remainder of the organ voluntary

The Reverend Jennifer Adams-Massmann

Jennifer grew up in the United States and France and studied English and American Literature at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, before completing a Master of Divinity degree at Duke University. She moved to Europe in 2002, living first in Germany and then in England. Since her ordination in 2007, she has served in overseas chaplaincies, hospital chaplaincy, and college chaplaincy in both Cambridge and Princeton. She has served as Assistant Chaplain and Welfare Officer at Peterhouse since 2019 and was Acting Dean for the 2024/25 academic year. She is currently completing a PhD at the University of Heidelberg on women missionaries in eighteenth-century America, where she previously taught American religion to undergraduates.

As Canon Steward, Jennifer will take a leading role in overseeing and shaping the welcome and hospitality offered to the many worshippers, pilgrims, tourists, and other visitors who come to the Abbey. She will ensure that the experience of all who come to the Abbey is rooted in the Gospel and inspired by the Abbey's rich heritage of Christian faith. As Archdeacon, she will be responsible for the pastoral care of staff, volunteers, residents, worshippers, and visitors.

Choristerships at Westminster Abbey

The Choir of Westminster Abbey

If you have a son who enjoys singing, you can find out more information about our world-renowned Abbey Choir and its unique Choir School. Alternatively, please contact Dr Emma Margrett, Headteacher, Westminster Abbey Choir School, and Mr Andrew Nethsingha, Organist and Master of the Choristers, by emailing [email protected].

St Margaret's Choristers

If you have a daughter aged 10 or 11 who would like to sing with the St Margaret's Choristers, please contact Mr Greg Morris, Director of Music, St Margaret's Church, [email protected]. Find out more about Music at St Margaret's Church.

If you attend worship at the Abbey regularly, you may like to add this page to your home screen for easy access to our orders of service.

Hymns covered by Christian Copyright Licensing (International) Ltd are reproduced under CCL no 1040271 and MRL no 1040288. Common Worship (Church House Publishing, 2000), material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council. Scripture Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version.