Evensong sees a surge even as British church attendance declines
In small and large spaces, the 45-minute service is attracting people who might otherwise never enter a sanctuary.
c. 2017 Religion News Service
LONDON (RNS) — The line of locals and tourists stretches about 400 people long, and one might think they are waiting to get into the premiere of a play or an upscale restaurant’s grand opening. But these people want to go to a church service.
In Britain, where churchgoing is mostly in decline, crowds are drawn to evensong, the hymn-heavy evening service of the Anglican tradition taken from the Book of Common Prayer. This line was headed for the service at Westminster Abbey in London, sometimes called England’s parish church.
