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."
2025-26 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.)
September 7, 2025 First Compline service of Fall Term
November 2, 2025 Compline for All Saints followed by Sung Mass
November 23, 2025 Last Compline service of Fall Term
January 18, 2026 First Compline service of Spring Term
February 1, 2026 Compline for Candlemas followed by Sung Mass
April 5, 2026 Compline for Easter followed by Sung Mass
May 17, 2026 Last Compline service of Spring Term