The ancient monastic office of Compline is sung by members of the Christ Church Choir each Sunday night during the academic term. Candles offer the only illumination, and the choir sings from an unseen loft at the north end of the crossing.

The earliest formal description of Compline is found in the Rule of Saint Benedict, written in the early sixth century. Benedict described in fewer than thirty words the form Compline would take for the next thousand years: Psalm, hymn, chapter, blessing, and dismissal. "After Compline," he wrote, "no one may speak."

2024-25 Schedule

Compline is sung each Sunday at 9:00pm during term time. (Dates in italics below denote when Compline is followed by a Sung Mass.)

August 25, 2024 First Compline service of Fall Term

September 29, 2024 Compline for Saint Michael & All Angels followed by Sung Mass

November 3, 2024 Compline for All Saints followed by Sung Mass

November 24, 2024 Last Compline service of Fall Term

January 12, 2025 First Compline service of Spring Term

February 2, 2025 Compline for Candlemas followed by Sung Mass

April 20, 2025 Compline for Easter followed by Sung Mass

May 18, 2025 Last Compline service of Spring Term