Choral Evensong

The Cathedral Choir are singing Choral Evensong at Birmingham Cathedral on Wednesday 14 April, starting at 18:45. It's a shorter version of the service, which they describe as a quiet hour to reflect and pray as the day turns to evening, and everyone is welcome.

The choir itself is made up of three sections — adults, boys and girls — and the service takes its text from the traditional language of the Book of Common Prayer. During term time, they sing Evensong four times a week: a shorter form on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the full service on Fridays, and a full service with hymns and a sermon on Sundays. This particular one is one of those midweek shorter versions.

The setting adds its own weight to the occasion. St Philip's is a rare and fine 1715 example of English Baroque architecture, built as a parish church and consecrated in 1715. It became the cathedral of the newly formed Diocese of Birmingham in 1905, and it's now a Grade I listed building and the seat of the Bishop of Birmingham. It's a proper piece of the city's history, and the service sits right inside it.

So, if you're looking for a quiet spot to settle into as the working day winds down, this is a good place to find it. The Cathedral Choir will be singing at Birmingham Cathedral (Cathedral Church of Saint Philip) on Colmore Row, B3 2QB, on Wednesday 14 April at 18:45.