Compline

From the ancient monastic practice of ending the day in prayer and praise of God, a Compline service is held every Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. This stunningly beautiful candlelit service features a small group of singers, "Sanctuary," offering Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony. The service was inaugurated in September 2010 and continues weekly throughout the year.

The word "Compline" is from the same root as the word "complete." As the last service of the day, it is the completion of our worship of God until the next morning, when we pray, "O Lord, open thou our lips." In monastic communities, Compline is the beginning of silence lasting until the morning.

All are welcome at this service, and we encourage you to make yourself comfortable when attending it--perhaps even lie down in a pew and enjoy the beautiful sounds and stillness. Listen to a recording of part of this service here.

Compline can be found on page 127 of The Book of Common Prayer. While this simple service is spoken in many churches, homes, and other settings, our Sunday evening service is sung by the choir. A downloadable PDF of the texts sung at Compline is available here.

Compline CD

In response to numerous requests for a CD of Sanctuary singing pieces from the Compline service, we are thrilled to announce that it is now available! CDs cost $15 each and may be purchased at our bookshop in the parish office. If you would like to order copies online ($15 each plus shipping and handling), you may do so here. A chart showing shipping costs is available here.

(If you want to purchase more than 10 CDs, or you wish to have them shipped to a non-U.S. address, please contact us for information about shipping costs.)

Audio files are available from CDBaby and Amazon.

Proceeds from the sale of this CD will help support the Compline service in the future.

SPECIAL: Order a Sanctuary CD and "An Unexpected Christmas," for the special price of $25.

Track list:

1 Christe qui lux    William Byrd   4:18
2 Nunc dimittis    Tomás Luis de Victoria 2:21
3 O bone et dulcis Domine Jesu   Josquin des Prez   3:30

4 In manu tuas John Sheppard 2:42
5 Deus in adjutorium   Ludwig Senfl   4:12
6 Benedic anima mea   Claudin de Sermisy   3:08
7 Scapulis suis    Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina   3:13
8 Auxilium meum   Pierre Passereau   3:18
9 Te lucis ante terminum   Diego Ortiz 2:14
10 Super flumina Babylonis   Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina 4:08
11 Libera nos, salva nos 1   John Sheppard 2:26
12 Anima mea    Martin de Rivafrecha   2:58
13 Salve Regina    chant   3:08
14 Salve Regina William Byrd 8:15
15 Conditor alme siderum     chant   2:47

Order the CD here.