My Soul Doth Magnify

There is a popular practice of Anglican choral evensong in the Netherlands outside the context of the Anglican Church. Dutch choirs perform the Anglican daily prayer liturgy: with preces and responses, psalms, canticles, hymns and an anthem, as well as lessons and spoken prayers. Choral evensong attracts many people: believers (of all denominations), ex-believers and non-believers. This paradox, the popularity of choral evensong in a so-called secularised country such as the Netherlands, attracts attention and raises questions. What exactly is going on here? Why is choral evensong so popular in contemporary society? The central topic of the research presented in this volume is the appropriation of Anglican choral evensong within the Dutch context in relation to religious dynamics in Dutch culture.