York Minster

Northern Cathedrals Festival Evensong

Published Tuesday 29th May 2007 by Alix Peacock

On Saturday 26th May 2007, York Minster hosted the Northern Cathedrals Festival Evensong. The boys and men of the York Minster Choir were joined by boys and men of the choirs of Ripon and Durham Cathedrals.

The Evensong service for the Northern Choirs Festival is held only once a year, and the cathedrals of York, Ripon and Durham take it in turns to host the service. The service was held in the Nave as people came from all over the North of England to take part in this special annual Evensong.

Evensong is one of the official services of the Anglican Church, dating from 1549, and later revised in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.  The majority of the service is sung by the choir, and so a high standard of singing is required to bring out the full beauty of the service.