Choral Evensong: St Michael and All Angels.
Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are the three named biblical angels, depicted as the beloved messengers of God. Michael, which means ‘who is like God?’
A basilica near Rome was dedicated in the fifth century in honour of Michael on 30 September, beginning with celebrations on the eve of that day, and 29 September is now kept in honour of Michael throughout the western Church.
Hymns (AMNS)
163 Angel-voices ever singing
532 Ye watchers and ye holy ones
13 Abide with me - (Archangel Michael is regarded as the protector of those at the hour of death)
The Feast of Michael and All Angels
The feast falls at the most beautiful time of the year, on the cusp between the last glow of fiery summer and the yellow-gold 'fallowing' leaves of autumn; the wings of Michael and his angels seem to flutter in harmony with the unleaving of the trees.
Michaelmas has been the English name for the feast since at least the eleventh century, and it's a lovely one in every context: Michaelmas daisies, Michaelmas fairs, Michaelmas moons, and more. (School and University terms, too.)
The Unicorn Singers, a choir of around thirty, specialises in exploring exciting repertoires from the Medieval, Renaissance, and Early Baroque periods.