Choral Evensong Re-Introduced
at St. John’s Portsmouth (Kingston, Ontario)
(By the Revd. Robert Porter, rector of St. John’s. Photo used by permission of the Trinitas Youth Choir.)
On Friday, October 17th, 2025, the choir of St. John’s Anglican Church, Portsmouth, celebrated BCP choral evensong with the support of the Trinitas Youth Singers, the culmination of a partnership that began this fall. The youth singers meet weekly in the church to practice beautiful sacred music and perform two recitals each year. They also participate in Anglican worship twice a year.
The Thanksgiving-inspired service included choral psalms, motets, and canticles by Berthier, Goss, Homilius, and Wedd. Many commented on how lovely and deeply rich it was to once again sing the evening office, while others participating for the first time eagerly asked when it was happening again.
I became enamoured with BCP worship when I attended St. Thomas, Huron Street, Toronto, during my time at Wycliffe College. The Prayer Book Society supported me with an education bursary in my second year. Currently, I serve at St. John’s, Portsmouth, which has a long tradition of a weekly BCP sung service. It has been a delight to return to the poetic, solid, and richly spiritual worship of the BCP. I am grateful that the Prayer Book Society has again supported my studies in the Doctorate of Ministry program at Tyndale University, Toronto, with an education bursary this year. It is a joy to witness other generations joining in the rich tradition of the BCP, ensuring that the beauty and depth of worship will continue to inspire us.