A Festal Evensong for the 65th Anniversary of the Accession of Her

Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 6th

February 1952.

[A possible service outline - for local adaptation.Note starred items * and see suggestions made at

the end.]

Monday, 6th February, 2017

… are delighted to welcome…, and all with us this evening, as we meet to celebrate the 65th

Anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne

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Entrance Hymn

Minister O Lord, open thou our lips.Answer And our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

Minister O God, make speed to save us.Answer O Lord, make haste to help us.

Minister Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

Answer As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Minister Praise ye the Lord.Answer The Lord's Name be praised.

Psalm 121*I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills: from whence cometh my help.My help cometh even from the Lord: who hath made heaven and earth.He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: and he that keepeth thee will not sleep.Behold, he that keepeth Israel: shall neither slumber nor sleep.The Lord himself is thy keeper: the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand;

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So that the sun shall not burn thee by day: neither the moon by night.The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in: from this time forth for evermore.Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen

First Lesson Proverbs 8.1-16* Please sit

Magnificat Please stand

MY soul doth magnify the Lord : and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.For he hath regarded : the lowliness of his hand-maiden.For behold, from henceforth : all generations shall call me blessed.For he that is mighty hath magnified me : and holy is his Name.And his mercy is on them that fear him : throughout all generations.He hath showed strength with his arm : he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.He hath put down the mighty from their seat : and hath exalted the humble and meek.

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He hath filled the hungry with good things : and the rich he hath sent empty away.He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel : as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever.Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Second Lesson St Paul’s Epistle to the Romans 13.1-10*

Nunc Dimittis Please stand

LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace : according to thy word.For mine eyes have seen : thy salvation;Which thou hast prepared : before the face of all people;To be a light to lighten the Gentiles : and to be the glory of thy people Israel.Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

The Apostles Creed

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Minister I BELIEVE in GodAll the Father Almighty, Maker of

heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholick Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen.

Minister The Lord be with you.Answer And with thy spirit.

Minister. Let us pray. Please kneel

Lord, have mercy upon us.Answer Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

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Minister Our Father, All which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen.

Minister O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us.Answer And grant us thy salvation.Minister O Lord, save the Queen;Answer Who putteth her trust in thee.

Minister Send her help from thy holy place.Answer And evermore mightily defend her.Minister Be unto her, O Lord, a strong tower;Answer From the face of her enemies.

Minister Endue thy Ministers with righteousness.Answer And make thy chosen people joyful.Minister O Lord, save thy people.Answer And bless thine inheritance.

Minister Give peace in our time, O Lord.

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Answer Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.

Minister. O Lord, hear our prayer;Answer. And let our cry come unto thee

The Collect for Fifth Sunday after EpiphanyO LORD, we beseech thee to keep thy Church and household continually in thy true religion; that they who do lean only upon the hope of thy heavenly grace may evermore be defended by thy mighty power; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect for The AccessionO GOD, who providest for thy people by thy power, and rulest over them in love: Vouchsafe so to bless thy Servant our Queen, that under her this nation may be wisely governed, and thy Church may serve thee in all godly quietness; and grant that she being devoted to thee with her whole heart, and persevering in good works unto the end, may, by thy guidance, come to thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

The Second Collect at Evening Prayer

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O GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed: Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

The Third Collect, for Aid against all PerilsLIGHTEN our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Anthem or Hymn

Address*

Hymn

Accession-tide Prayers*Please kneel

O LORD our God, who upholdest and governest all things by the word of thy power: Receive our humble prayers for our Sovereign Lady ELIZABETH,

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as on this day, set over us by thy grace and providence to be our Queen; and, together with her, bless, we beseech thee, Philip Duke of Edinburgh, Charles Prince of Wales, and all the Royal Family; that they, ever trusting in thy goodness, protected by thy power, and crowned with thy gracious and endless favour, may long continue before thee in peace and safety, joy and honour, and after death may obtain everlasting life and glory, by the merits and mediation of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth ever one God, world without end. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, who rulest over all the kingdoms of the world, and dost order them according to thy good pleasure: We yield thee unfeigned thanks, for that thou wast pleased, as on this day, to set thy Servant our Sovereign Lady, Queen ELIZABETH, upon the Throne of this Realm. Let thy wisdom be her guide, and let thine arm strengthen her; let truth and justice, holiness and righteousness, peace and charity, abound in her days; direct all her counsels and endeavours to thy glory, and the welfare of her subjects; give us grace to obey her cheerfully for conscience sake, and let her always possess the hearts of her people; let her reign be long and prosperous, and crown her with everlasting life in the world to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for Unity

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O GOD the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions. Take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatsoever else may hinder us from godly union and concord: that, as there is but one Body, and one Spirit, and one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all; so we may henceforth be all of one heart, and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*[Prayer for the Clergy and People

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who alone workest great marvels: Send down upon our Bishops, and Curates, and all Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.]

*[A Prayer of Saint ChrysostomALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy

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Name thou wilt grant their requests: Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.]

The GraceTHE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

Te Deum Laudamus Please stand

WE praise thee, O God : we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.All the earth doth worship thee : the Father everlasting.To thee all Angels cry aloud : the heavens and all the powers therein.To thee Cherubin and Seraphin : continually do cry,Holy, Holy, Holy : Lord God of Sabaoth;Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty : of thy glory.The glorious company of the Apostles : praise thee.The goodly fellowship of the Prophets : praise thee.The noble army of Martyrs : praise thee.The holy Church throughout all the world : doth acknowledge thee;The Father: of an infinite Majesty;Thine honourable, true : and only Son;

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Also the Holy Ghost : the ComforterThou art the King of glory : O Christ.Thou art the everlasting Son : of the Father.When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man : thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death : thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.Thou sittest at the right hand of God : in the glory of the Father.We believe that thou shalt come: to be our Judge.We therefore pray thee, help thy servants : whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.Make them to be numbered with thy Saints : in glory everlasting.O Lord, save thy people : and bless thine heritage.Govern them : and lift them up for ever.Day by day : we magnify thee;And we worship thy Name : ever world without end.Vouchsafe, O Lord : to keep us this day without sin.O Lord, have mercy upon us : have mercy upon us.O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us: as our trust is in thee.O Lord, in thee have I trusted : let me never be

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confounded.

The BlessingPlease kneel

GOD grant to the living, grace; to the departed, rest; to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth, and all mankind, peace and concord; and to us and all his servants, life everlasting; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.

National Anthem Please stand

God save our gracious Queen,Long live our noble Queen,God save the Queen,Send her victorious,Happy and glorious,Long to reign over us:God save the Queen.Thy choices gifts in store,On her be pleased to pour,Long may she reign.May she defend our laws,And ever give us causeTo sing with heart and voice,God save the Queen.

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Thank you for being with us today… Refreshments follow…

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Notes and Suggestions:

Some may wish to begin the service with the Penitential Introduction sometimes used at Morning and Evening Prayer (often on Sundays). Others will feel this unnecessary on a joyous public occasion.

Alternative or additional Psalms: 20, 101

Psalm 20.THE Lord hear thee in the day of trouble : the Name of the God of Jacob defend thee ;Send thee help from the sanctuary : and strengthen thee out of Sion;.Remember all thy offerings : and accept thy burnt-sacrifice;

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Grant thee thy heart's desire : and fulfil all thy mind.We will rejoice in thy salvation, and triumph in the Name of the Lord our God : the Lord perform all thy petitions.Now know I, that the Lord helpeth his Anointed, and will hear him from his holy heaven : even with the wholesome strength of his right hand.Some put their must in chariots, and some in horses : but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God.They are brought down, and fallen : but we are risen, and stand upright.Save, Lord, and hear us, O King of heaven : when we call upon thee.Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

Psalm 101.MY song shall be of mercy and judgement : unto thee, O Lord, will I sing.O let me have understanding : in the way of godliness.When wilt thou come unto me : I will walk in my house with a perfect heart.I will take no wicked thing in hand; I hate the sins of unfaithfulness : there shall no such cleave unto me.A froward heart shall depart from me : I will not know a wicked person.

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Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour : him will I destroy.Whoso hath also a proud look and high stomach : I will not suffer him.Mine eyes look upon such as are faithful in the land : that they may dwell with me.Whoso leadeth a godly life : he shall be my servant.There shall no deceitful person dwell in my house : he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.I shall soon destroy all the ungodly that are in the land : that I may root out all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

Alternative Lessons: Joshua 1.1-9; Revelation 21.22 - 22.3

The positions of the Address, on the one hand, and of the Accession-tide Prayers through to the Grace inclusive, on the other, may be swapped.

The Prayer for the Clergy and People, or the Prayer or St John Chrysostom, or both, could be omitted if desired (hence square brackets around them above).

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The Te Deum is an attractive feature of the official provision for Accession. If it can’t readily be sung, it may be said, by all together standing, either before the Blessing or at the end of the Address. (But avoid ending up with the Grace immediately followed by the Blessing. An intervening collection hymn might be helpful.)

Suitable hymns include:All people that on earth do dwellI vow to thee, my countryO Jesus, I have promisedO praise ye the LordPraise, my soul, the King of HeavenPraise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creationThe King of love my Shepherd isThe Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not wantYe servants of God, your Master proclaim

Extracts from the Book of Common Prayer, the rights in which are vested in the Crown, are reproduced by permission of the Crown’s Patentee, Cambridge University Press.

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