Westminster evensong how long

I'm Jewish but find church music, especially that which has roots in the Middle Ages, very spiritual. I'm excited not only to listen to this music live, but to do it in such a beautiful setting as the Abbey.

I made a note to check Westminster Abbey's website closer to the week that we'll be in London. Sarah, you are quite welcome. I've not been at St. Paul's, yet, but also hear good things about their service. If I can find my notes, on another travel forum TripAdvisor I have gotten some recommendations for other churches with good music programs. I want to say Southwark Cathedral, but will have to check. But I do recommend the Abbey. Make sure you pick a day when the choir will be singing, and if you have a preference for the boys' choir versus the adult men and boys, or a visiting choir, keep that in mind.

The information should be on the website or you can contact them to ask. The effect of the music, in that space, is, for me, unearthly, ethereal, and otherwise awe-inspiring. Slang has rendered the English word "awesome" less useful for some descriptions!

I suggest you do a verger tour the day you plan to attend Evensong, or a day prior to your selected service. I enjoy having a live guide, plus being able to ask questions and see the tomb of Edward the Confessor.

At some point in the tour, the verger may ask if anyone is interested in coming back to attend Evensong. I can't say definitely that this had anything to do with it, and undoubtedly it depends on how busy they are, but on more than once occasion, a nice verger has put us into very good seats for Evensong. Overall I find the Abbey staff, and especially the vergers, eager to be helpful and to share the history of the Abbey with visitors.

On one memorable occasion, the verger, upon hearing we were planning to return for Evensong and seeing the heavy bags books we were carrying, offered to hold our bags for us so we wouldn't have to carry them around the rest of the day.

On our most recent trip, last fall, a verger went out of his way to make sure my aunt saw items of interest in the museum in the undercroft, and to describe to me a special service they were holding. I've had very good experiences there, and hope you will enjoy your visit as well.

I think everyone else has answered your questions. However, I went to the evensong during a trip to London in and will add a few observations. I think its worth going to the evensong service even if you aren't religious. It's always interesting to see historic structures used for their intended purposes. In this case the music and service will be quite good.

You might also consider attending a Sunday service. There is not a service every night, so check to make sure they'll have a service when you plan to attend. In addition to not being able to see the rest of the abbey, I don't think you will have access to the restrooms inside during the service.

There is a conference center across the street that was open in the evening when we were there that is an option. Go ahead and take the tour and see the facility. We went first thing in the morning and it worked well. They had a cash line and a credit card line. The cash line moves a bit quicker. Rob, thank you for your comments. Your mention of available restrooms was especially good to know!

I paid cash to get in and for an audio tour 3 years ago and I seem to remember that the cash line was shorter. My wife and I were seated in the actual choir for the very low-key evensong service and found the experience to be moving and magical. We are not particularly religious, definitely not Anglican, but could still appreciate the spiritual nature of the service.

Highly recommend. Please sign in to post. Thank you all for clarifying and answering questions I didn't even know to ask. Have fun! A cathedral is a grand church led by a bishop. Westminster Abbey started as a monastery and has always been linked with Royalty.

Of course, we think both are worth visiting! The current church was consecrated in However, there was a monastery here from AD, so it has a long history as a religious site. Only small parts of the cloisters remain from the original building today.

It is also the venue for Royal Coronations, including that of Queen Elizabeth II in , and for the burials of notable people throughout British history. What started as a Catholic Monastery converted to the Church of England denomination Protestant during the Reformation of the 16th Century.

Today, it describes itself as a working and inclusive church celebrating the Christian faith. Many famous Britons, both Royalty and not, are buried at Westminster Abbey. In total, there are around 3, tombs scattered across the church. Ben Johnson, the poet, playwright, and actor, is the only person buried in an upright position.

One scenario would see the funeral held at Westminster Abbey, with the body then being moved to Windsor Castle. There are communal vaults below the church and most bodies rest in peace in there. In some cases, bodies were cremated and the ashes placed in the tomb.

However, he is actually buried in his home town of Stratford upon Avon, at the local Holy Trinity Church. There are some 3, people buried within the walls of Westminster Abbey. These tombs are scattered around the church as well as beneath the floor of the Abbey. As you might imagine, there is limited space remaining for burials, the most recent burial was that of renowned scientist Steven Hawking.

We hope this answered all of your questions so now you have everything you need to know about Westminster Abbey! Feel free to peruse our London Tours to plan your journey in the city. If you have any more questions about the Abbey, feel free to contact us.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. First, what is Westminster Abbey? Info for Planning a Visit to Westminster Abbey.

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