St. Paul’s Cathedral: Evensong

Hey Y’all:

How’s everyone doing?

Do you ever attend Evensong? Have you even heard of Evensong?

I’ve only been to two Evensong services. One was a few years ago at Westminster Abbey in the middle of November. Today, I attended Evensong at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

—Do you remember a most-famous wedding in 1981 at St. Paul’s Cathedral? No, no, not Luke and Laura’s. Theirs was in a New York film studio. Haha. Of course…Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s!—

This isn’t a blog to share my opinion of Evensong at St. Paul’s Cathedral or to reminisce about the royal wedding because I’m in London. Or, perhaps it is…

Here’s the thing, attendance in churches (regardless of where) is down, especially in the UK. If a single person shows up, hooray. Today, there were quite a few people at Evensong in St. Paul’s Cathedral. But, oh my, the sanctuary could have handled many more sinners, like me.

I sat in the front row, directly across from where Diana spoke royal vows 41 years ago at age 20 (she wasn’t even old enough to enter many U.S. bars). Diana’s marriage to Prince Charles was spellbinding to much of the world. I was 19-years-old at the time, count me in. Evensong was competing for my attention (and other’s?) over memories of Charles and Diana’s wedding.

First, I’m not sure where the priest stood (again, this was only my second Evensong). He wasn’t in front, that I know. His voice came through a speaker to my left, and a little behind me. I waited and waited for someone to step out, all the while thinking that he sounded just like Oz in the Wizard of Oz. I’m not criticizing the audio and tone, this is simply what it sounded like (exactly!) to me.

The operatic music was beautiful, a God-like language. But it’s not really my cup-of-tea whilst worshiping. But I respect it. I also assume it’s a huge part of what draws people to attend Evensong?

Unfortunately, operatic singing makes me sleepy and easily distracted. I found myself recreating Diana’s wedding day. I remembered how shy, though happy, she appeared. I remembered her utterly genuine demeanor and how you could tell from the gitgo that she’d be a people person. I drifted to Charles and how he looked so much older than Diana. How he appeared a bit stiff, not as smitten and exuberant as I’d imagine a Prince to be on his wedding day.

As the music hypnotically bogged me down, the royal wedding circa July 29, 1981 kept me going. I could see Diana’s long dress train draped over the black and white checkered floor and could almost hear Joan Lunden covering the hoorah on Good Morning America.

Eventually, I remembered what I was in the cathedral to do: worship.

So, then, I started envisioning lively Christian music in St. Paul’s Cathedral. Think: Third Day and Mac Powell for instance. Have you listened to Mac Powell? Mac draws a crowd. St. Paul’s Cathedral can hold a crowd and then some. Oh how exciting it would be to hear Mac Powell belt out Soul on Fire in St. Paul’s!

I appreciate that lively music in a church service is not for everyone. Sure would be fun to give it a try though? I wasn’t the only person that looked bogged down.

Like I said, I don’t wish to criticize St. Paul’s. I’m honored and humbled to have been welcomed inside for Evensong service.

—Just bloggin’ and sayin’…that I have a dream for “the church” to once again draw crowds.—

IMHO, that won’t happen without bringing some traditions up-to-date, like music. Especially in a venue that hosted one of the most famous weddings of all time.

To end on a positive. The outside and inside of St. Paul’s Cathedral and so, so many other European churches and cathedrals is simply stunning. Architecturally, church sites in Europe stand the test of time in drawing crowds to visit in awe of their beauty, if nothing else.

How wonderful it would be if the Holy Spirit could draw the same crowds. Not only to beautiful cathedrals, like St. Paul’s, but to Him in general. No matter where you are.

Thank you for reading!

Love, Shelley