“At St John’s, the [Compline] gathering is unlike any other regular church service,” explains a 2025 radio story from KFAI Minneculture. “Saint John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in Saint Paul has been presenting this simple half hour service every Thursday at 7pm for many years, making it free and accessible to the larger community as a way to help us let go of the cares of the day and prepare to rest. …It’s less a performance and more about simply being within the sound and silence, as well as the mystery.”
St. John’s Compline (Night Prayer) services have indeed been a long-standing part of our neighborhood identity. We regularly welcome a dedicated group of worshippers, many who do not otherwise attend services at our church. What makes this liturgy so special? The radio story continues as Allison Young interviews director of music Richard Gray.
To simply sit in stillness and contemplation? “That’s a really hard thing for people to right now,” says Allison.
“It’s a very hard thing for people to do right now and that’s one of the things I really like about this service,” answers Richard. “Those moments of stillness that we have an opportunity to take part of, in the midst of this so-busy life and all the noise that’s around us. This service offers us a chance to put that aside and not be in that for a little while.”
“It’s a time where people that are not necessarily like-minded in the world can come together and experience something together that’s beautiful and that’s peaceful,” adds Nick Chalmers of The Mirandola Ensemble, which occasionally joins Compline as a guest ensemble.
The service of Compline has been practiced regularly since the 6th century, and offers an intense feeling of peace, that somehow we are not alone in life.
Hear the entire wonderful radio story and interview between Allison and Richard: click here to listen on SoundCloud (free registration may be required) or click here to download it directly to your device.
We are entering into a season of transition for our Sacred Music ministry, as we prepare to welcome our interim director and begin the search for the next director of music. But “transition” does not mean we are changing who we are; we are growing more fully into who we already are and what we can become next.
Our tradition of Compline can continue strongly this program year. If this service is meaningful to you, if you want to help it remain part of our outreach to our neighbors, please consider donating to St. John’s Sacred Music Ministry.
