Evening services

Here on the continent evening services are a rarity.

Did they die out on the continent, or did the innovative Brits start them?

If Britain started them, then when was it?

I have heard it said that they began with reliable street lighting, which makes sense, but I've never seen anything written in any historical study or anything.

Somone must know. Can anyone help on this?

Comments

Emmanuel said…
Wasn't there several services in Geneva in Calvin's days ? There was also services everyday I think.
9:12 pm
Alan said…
Thanks Emmanuel! Certainly every day. That was the pattern in Britain, too, in Reformation and Puritan times. But I don't know about several sevices in one day - or at least morning and evening.

If there were several, when did it stop?
10:23 pm
Alan said…
Thanks Graham. That is another suggestion that would make sense, and this time coming (albeit secondhand) from a Church Historian.
11:34 am
Exile from GROGGS said…
... and I'd heard that evening services became common in the Victorian era, when the domestics were able to go to church after they had fulfilled their responsibilities for the day.

I'm not sure that Calvin's Geneva is a terribly typical example.

Also, in rural parts of England, there is sometimes an afternoon service rather than an evening one - so that the cows can be milked in the evening.
4:44 pm
Anonymous said…
Well Alan, it's now the 28th., June and comments do seem to have dried up somewhat, so would you like to publish your findings/conclusions in a fresh posting? I suggest a new posting as it might not get seen this far down the page.
12:03 pm
Alan said…
I haven't reached any conclusions yet, Ken, that's the problem!

I'll see what I can find out in the next few weeks.
1:03 pm
Anonymous said…
So, has this subject died the death?
5:29 pm
Alan said…
Hi Ken

I ponder it now and again.

I have found nothing more than what you guys have contributed, and I have no pearls of personal wisdom to cast. (!)

Speak, chaps, if you have anything further to add. Otherwise...
5:37 pm
Anonymous said…
The trouble is that you'll be most unlikely to get many further comments as this is now an archived page. Would a new posting help I wonder? I'd be interested in the different views myself.
1:00 am
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