Chapel Services
Members of the public are warmly invited to attend any of our morning or evening services throughout the week during the University term. Details of musical settings, hymns, and readings can be found in the Chapel Services and Music List for the term.
Sunday Services in Full Term
11.00am Sung Eucharist
This choral celebration of Holy Communion includes congregational hymns, a sermon, and a musical setting sung by the Choir. It usually lasts just over an hour. Those of any and all denominations are welcome to receive Communion in Chapel; it’s equally fine to attend and not take Communion. The service is followed by lunch and wine or a soft drink in the New Room, to which all are invited.
6.00pm Choral Evensong
Perhaps the most distinctively Anglican of all church services is Evensong, which took shape in the sixteenth century when the medieval orders for Vespers and Compline were combined, in the Book of Common Prayer, to create a new service. Evensong at Magdalen uses the traditional language of the 1662 Prayer Book and it offers the opportunity to hear a great variety of musical settings of the canticles (Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis), along with a wide range of anthems and psalm chants. This service typically lasts around 40 minutes, or 50 minutes on Saturday and Sunday when it includes congregational hymns. On Sundays, the service is followed by refreshments in the Antechapel.
Services from Monday to Saturday in Full Term
Services in bold type are sung by the Choir.
Monday
12.00 pm Noon Prayer
Tuesday
12.00 pm Noon Prayer
6.00 pm Choral Evening Prayer (sung by the Choristers only)
9.00 pm Sung Compline (Night Prayer)*
Wednesday
12.00 pm Noon Prayer
6.00pm Choral Evensong
Thursday
12.00 pm Noon Prayer
6.00 pm Choral Evensong
Friday
12.00 pm Noon Prayer
6.00 pm Choral Evening Prayer (sung by the Academical Clerks only)
(9.00 pm Sung Compline (Night Prayer) is sung a couple of times each term)
Saturday
6.00 pm Choral Evensong (usually sung by the Consort of Voices)
* This service is also broadcast on YouTube and Facebook at 9pm the following day (Wednesday)
The Sunday Eucharist service is followed by a light lunch and Sunday’s Choral Evensong is followed by refreshments in the Antechapel.
