Choral Evensong

A short, lively introduction to Choral Evensong and to the Christian faith and spirituality that it presupposes and presents. It approaches the service from the perspective of people of religious faith, and of those who might describe themselves as atheists or as "religious nones". It asks questions and discusses topics that will interest to anyone who enjoys the space for reflection that Choral evensong provides, and offer suggestions for further thought for anyone wanting to explore further the issues that it addresses. It takes seriously the fact that many congregations where Evensong is sung consist of people who are unsure or skeptical about Christian faith, or who reject it, as well as those who identify as Christians. For those who are Christians, it uses the framework of the service to provide an overview of how Christians read the Bible, pray and think about matters of doctrine - a form of catechesis. For other readers, it provides an overview of what Christian believe, and how many approach worship, taking its cues from the contents of the service and the questions that thoughtful people may ask. The short chapters make the content readily accessible, suitable for private reading and for use in discussion or reading groups.