| Show Name: | Choral Evensong |
| Other Names: | Choral Vespers |
| Format: | Evensong service |
| Runtime: | 60 minutes |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Language: | English |
| Home Station: | BBC Radio 4 (until 1970) BBC Radio 3 (1970–present) |
| Audio Format: | Stereophonic sound |
Choral Evensong is the BBC's longest-running outside broadcast programme. The programme is a broadcast of the Anglican service of Choral Evensong (sung evening prayer) live from cathedrals, university college chapels and churches throughout the United Kingdom.[1]
It is transmitted every Wednesday at 15:00 on BBC Radio 3, with a repeat on Sunday afternoons at 15:00. [2] The most recent edition is available on BBC Sounds for one month following the original broadcast. There is also an archive available.[1]
On occasion, Choral Vespers from Catholic cathedrals (such as Westminster Cathedral), Orthodox Vespers, or a recorded service from choral foundations abroad are broadcast, at which time it is referred to as Choral Vespers.
The first edition was relayed by the British Broadcasting Company from Westminster Abbey on 7 October 1926.[1] [3] The programme continued on the BBC Home Service, later BBC Radio 4, until 8 April 1970, when it moved to BBC Radio 3.
In 1970 the programme was reduced to just one broadcast per month, but the BBC received 2,500 letters of complaint, and weekly transmissions were resumed on 1 July of that same year.[4] [5]
In 2007 the live broadcast was switched to Sundays, which again caused protests.[6] The live transmission returned to Wednesdays in September 2008, with a recorded repeat on Sunday afternoons at approximately the same time. Choral Evensong forms part of Radio 3's religious programming remit, although non-religious listeners have also campaigned for its retention.[5]
Its 80th and 90th anniversary programmes were celebrated live from Westminster Abbey, with services on 11 October 2006 and 28 September 2016 respectively.[7] [8]