Evening Hymn (Henry Balfour Gardiner)

Te lucis ante terminum,
Rerum Creator, poscimus,
Ut pro tua clementia,
Sis praesul et custodia.

Procul recedant somnia,
Et noctium phantasmata:
Hostemque nostrum comprime,
Ne polluantur corpora.

Praesta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito,
Regnans per omne saeculum.

To thee before the close of day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That, with thy wonted favour, thou
Wouldst be our guard and keeper now.

From all ill dreams defend our sight,
From fears and terrors of the night;
Withhold from us our ghostly foe,
That spot of sin we may not know.

O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, thine only Son,
Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee,
Doth live and reign eternally.

Historical Background

Text: Latin, 8th-9th century
Music: Henry Balfour Gardiner (1877-1950)

Now the Day is Over

1. Now the day is over,
   Night is drawing nigh,
   Shadows of the evening
   Steal across the sky.
   


2. Jesus, give the weary
   Calm and sweet repose;
   With Thy tend’rest blessing
   May mine eyelids close.


3. Grant to little children
   Visions bright of Thee;
   Guard the sailors tossing
   On the deep, blue sea.


4. Comfort those who suffer,
   Watching late in pain;
   Those who plan some evil
   From their sin restrain.


5. Through the long night watches
   May Thine angels spread
   Their white wings above me,
   Watching round my bed.


6. When the morning wakens,
   Then may I arise
   Pure, and fresh, and sinless
   In Thy holy eyes.

Composer: Joseph Barnby (1868)

O Lord, Support Us

O Lord, support us all the day long,
until the shadows lengthen,
and the evening comes,
and the busy world is hushed,
and the fever of life is over,
and our work is done.
Then in thy mercy,
grant us a safe lodging and a holy rest,
and peace at the last.
Amen.

Hail! Gladdening Light (Charles Wood)

Hail! gladdening Light, of His pure glory poured
Who is th'immortal Father, heavenly, blest,
Holiest of Holies - Jesus Christ our Lord!

Now we are come to the Sun's hour of rest;
The lights of evening round us shine;
We hymn the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit divine!

Worthiest art thou at all times to be sung
With undefiled tongue,
Son of our God, giver of life, alone:
Therefore in all the world thy glories, Lord, they own. Amen.

Text: Phos Hilaron (Φῶς Ἱλαρόν), Greek, late 3rd century, trans. John Keble (1834)
Music: Charles Wood (1912)

Nunc Dimittis (Collegium Regale) [Herbert Howells]

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
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.

Nunc Dimittis, from "Collegium Regale," by Herbert Howells

Nunc Dimittis (St. Paul's Service) [Herbert Howells]

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
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.

Nunc Dimittis, from St. Paul's Service, by Herbert Howells

Magnificat (Gloucester Service) [Herbert Howells]

My soul doth magnify the Lord:
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded:
the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth:
all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me:
and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him:
throughout all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm:
he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat:
and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things:
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel:
as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
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

Magnificat, from the Gloucester Service

Composer: Herbert Howells

Magnificat (Collegium Regale) [Herbert Howells]

My soul doth magnify the Lord:
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded:
the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth:
all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me:
and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him:
throughout all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm:
he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat:
and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things:
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel:
as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
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

Music: Magnificat from "Collegium Regale"

Composer: Herbert Howells

Nunc Dimittis (Anglican)

Nunc Dimittis (Canticle of Simeon)

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
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.

Words: Luke 2:29–32

Background historical information

Preces & Responses for Evensong (England)

I. PHILIP RADCLIFFE:




II. GABRIEL JACKSON




III. WILLIAM SMITH








IV. HARRISON OXLEY




Preces and Responses for Evensong according to the Book of Common Prayer (1662)

Minister. O Lord, open thou our lips.
Response. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.
Minister. O God, make speed to save us.
Response. 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.
Minister. Praise ye the Lord.
Response. The Lord's Name be praised.

The Lord be with you.
Response. And with thy spirit.
Minister. Let us pray.
Response. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.

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.

Minister. O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us.
Response. And grant us thy salvation.
Minister. O Lord, save the Queen.
Response. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
Minister. Endue thy Ministers with righteousness.
Response. And make thy chosen people joyful.
Minister. O Lord, save thy people.
Response. And bless thine inheritance.
Minister. Give peace in our time, O Lord.
Response. Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.
Minister. O God, make clean our hearts within us.
Response. And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

The First Collect at Evening Prayer.

The Second Collect at Evening Prayer. 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.

The Third Collect, for Aid against all Perils. 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.