The Chapel Royal: Organists and organ staff

Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Originally published by University of London, London, 2006.

Citation:

'The Chapel Royal: Organists and organ staff', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837, ed. R O Bucholz( London, 2006), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp288-290 [accessed 26 November 2024].

Organists 1660–1837

The organists were appointed by the dean of the chapel and sworn in by the sub dean. There were three organists from 1660 to 1674, four from 1674 to 1687, three again from 1687 to 1697 (one position being Extraordinary 1695 to 1697); and two thereafter (one such position being held jointly from 1704 to 1707). Francis Pigot received £100 in 1700. In 1704, the organists are listed at £73 per annum apiece, divided into wages of £11 8 s 1 1/2d and of £61 11s 10 1/2d. (fn. 1) By the early-nineteenth century Sir George Smart was established at £58 per annum.



1660		Child, W.
1660		Lowe, E.
1660	19 June	Gibbons, C.
1674	16 Mar.	Blow, J.
1676	26 Oct.	Dusharoll, J. C.
1682	14 July	Purcell, H.
1697	24 Mar.	Pigot, F.
1704	25 May	Clark, J. (joint)
1704	25 May	Croft, W. (joint)
1707	5 Nov.	Croft, W.
1708c.	18 Oct.	Weldon, J.
1727	4 Sept.	Green, M.
1736	21 June	Martin, J.
1737	10 May	Travers, J.
1756	13 Jan.	Nares, J.
1758	23 June	Boyce, W.
1779	24 Mar.	Dupuis, T. S.
1783	1 Mar.	Arnold, S.
1796	25 July	Knyvett, C.
1802	4 Nov.	Smith, J. S.
By 1804		Cook, R.
1822	8 Feb.	Smart, Sir G. T.
1836	29 Sept.	Attwood, T.

Organist in Extraordinary 1695–1697; 1700–1704



1695	11 Dec.	Pigot, F.
1700	7 July	Clark, J. (Gentleman - joint)
1700	7 July	Croft, W. (Gentleman - joint)

Organ Staff 1660–1837

The organ blower, organ maker and tuner of the regals were appointed by the lord chamberlain via warrants to the gentlemen ushers, daily waiters. The organ blower made £10 on the Establishment of 1689, raised to £20 on that of 1702. (fn. 3) The organ maker received £20 per diem in 1660 but is listed as unsalaried in 1720. (fn. 4) The tuner of the regals, etc., made £56 per annum for keeping the organs in repair in 1702. (fn. 5)

Organ Blower 1687–1837



[?1687]	22 Mar.	Wyatt, G.
1689	28 Nov.	Shelley, M.
1717	12 Feb.	Clay, S.
1727	28 July	Ray, J.
1774	6 May	Leech, T.
1798	10 Mar.	Davies, E.
1803	7 Apr.	Mussitt, H.
1818	21 Dec.	Marson, E.

Organ Maker 1661–1830



1661	8 May	Farr, J.
1681	30 May	Smith, B.
1708	3 Apr.	Schrider, C., sen.
1740	9 Dec.	Schrider, C., jun.
By 1765		Byfield, J.
1799	4 Nov.	Broadwood, J.
1820	5 Apr.	Lincoln, H. C.
1831	12 Oct.	Bishop, J. C.
1835	13 Oct.	Hill, W.

Tuner of the Regals, Organs, Flutes, Recorders and Winds 1660–?1789



1660	2 July	Hingston, J.
1683	17 Dec.	Purcell, H.
1695	30 Nov.	Blow, J. (joint)
1695	30 Nov.	Smith, B. (joint)
1708	3 Apr.	Blow, J.
1709	22 Mar.	Croft, W.
1727	21 Aug.	Gates, B.
1774	5 Jan.	Gordon, J.

Keeper, Mender, Maker, Repair and Tuner of the Regals, Organs, Virginals, Flutes, etc. in Extraordinary



1673	10 June	Purcell, H.