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."

2023-24 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 27, 2023 First Compline service of Fall Term

October 8, 2023 Compline followed by Sung Mass

November 5, 2023 Compline for All Saints followed by Sung Mass

November 19, 2023 Last Compline service of Fall Term

January 14, 2024 First Compline service of Spring Term

March 31, 2024 Compline for Easter followed by Sung Mass

May 19, 2024 Last Compline service of Spring Term