The service of Compline is the last of the seven daily services observed in monastic communities, taking place immediately before bedtime. It has over many centuries inspired incredibly beautiful compositions, and this release gathers together eighteen of the many lovely a cappella choral motets, mainly from the Renaissance period, which were written to adorn the evening worship of the church.

In addition, the Office of Compline, sung in English with its traditional chants, has been included in its entirety on a bonus CD.

Lighten our darkness sees John Rutter and his Cambridge Singers return to the austere surrounds and sumptuous acoustic of the Lady Chapel at Ely Cathedral, where many of their classic recordings from the 1980s and early 1990s were recorded. It was, in all probability, the place where the monks of Ely sang Compline before the Reformation; its magnificent acoustics and architectural splendour and grace continue to make it the perfect setting for Compline today.

DISC 1
- O gladsome light (Louis Bourgeois)
- In manus tuas (William Byrd)
- O Christ who art the light and day (William Byrd)
- Visita, quaesumus Domine (William Byrd)
- Ave Maria (Francisco Guerrero)
- Pater noster (Jacob Handl)
- Justorum animae (Orlande de Lassus)
- O Lord, the Maker of all thing (William Mundy)
- Bogoroditsye Dyevo (Sergei Rachmaninov)
- Abendlied (Josef Rheinberger)
- In pace (John Sheppard)
- Libera nos, salva nos (John Sheppard)
- Te lucis ante terminum (Thomas Tallis)
- Alma Redemptoris Mater (T. L. de Victoria)
- Ave Regina caelorum (T. L. de Victoria)
- Regina caeli laetare (T. L. de Victoria)
- Salve Regina (T. L. de Victoria)

DISC 2
- The Office of Compline