Since the first days of the Christian Church, believers gathered at regular hours each day and night to respond to God’s word with praise on behalf of creation and with intercession for the salvation of the world. Eventually, early morning, early evening and night time emerged as the pre-eminent hours for the offering of this sacrifice of praise.
The services of Morning and Evening Prayer and Compline help Christians today take part in this privilege and duty which belongs to all God’s people. Compline, from the Latin word meaning ‘completion’, also known as Night Prayer, is a quiet, reflective form of prayer offered before rest at the end of the day. Each of these liturgies may be used in a very simple form, or enriched with a variety of optional chants and prayers.
The three forms for Morning, Evening and Night Prayer provided here come from the Church of England’s Common Worship: Daily Prayer and include the readings set for the particular day and season.
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