List of organists and assistant organists of Wells Cathedral

Wells Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England.

Organ seen from the crossing.

The first record of an organ dates from 1310, with a smaller organ, probably for the Lady Chapel, being installed in 1415. In 1620 a new organ, built by Thomas Dallam, was installed at a cost of £398 1s 5d, however this was destroyed by parliamentary soldiers in 1643 and another new organ was built in 1662,[1] which was enlarged in 1786,[2] and again in 1855.[3] In 1909–1910 a new organ was built by Harrison & Harrison with the best parts of old organ retained,[4] and this has been maintained by the same company since.[5]

Organists

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  • 1416–1418 Walter Bagele (or Vageler)[6]
  • 1421–1422 Robert Cator
  • 1428–1431 John Marshal
  • 1437–1462 John Marchell
  • 1461–1462 John Menyman (joint)
  • 1461–1462 Richard Hygons (joint)
  • 1497–1507 Richard Hygons
  • 1507–1508 Richard Bramston
  • 1508 John Clawsy (or Clavelleshay)
  • 1514 William Mylwhard
  • 1515–1531 Richard Bramston
  • 1534–1538 John Smyth
  • 1547–1554 Nicholas Prynne
  • 1556–1557 John Marker
  • 1558 Robert Awman
  • 1559–1562 William Lyde
  • 1563 Thomas Tanner
  • 1568 Matthew Nailer
  • 1587 John Clerk
  • 1600 Thomas Hunt
  • 1608 James Weare
  • 1613–1614 Edmund Tucker
  • 1614–1619 Richard Brown
  • 1619–1642 John Oker (or Okeover)
  • 1663–1674 John Brown
  • 1674 Mr Hall
  • 1674–1688 John Jackson
  • 1688–1690 Robert Hodge
  • 1690–1712 John George
  • 1713–1726 William Broderip
  • 1726 Joseph Millard
  • 1727–1740 William Evans
  • 1741 Jacob Nickells
  • 1741–1771 John Broderip
  • 1771–1773 Peter Parfitt
  • 1773–1781 Robert Parry
  • 1781–1820 Dodd Perkins
  • 1820–1859 William Perkins
  • 1859–1895 Charles Williams Lavington
  • 1896–1899 Percy Carter Buck
  • 1899–1933 Revd. Canon Thomas Henry Davis
  • 1933–1936 Conrad William Eden
  • 1936–1971 Denys Pouncey, with Peter Lyons (musician), who was Director of Music at Wells Cathedral School, as Master of the Choristers from 1954-1960.
  • 1971–1996 Anthony Crossland
  • 1996–2004 Malcolm Archer
  • 2004–2005 Rupert Gough (acting)
  • 2005–2019 Matthew Owens[7]
  • 2020–2022 Jeremy Cole (acting Organist and Master of the Choristers since 2019)[8]

Assistant organists

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References

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  1. ^ "Somerset, Wells Cathedral of St. Andrew, Dean & Chapter Of Wells N0 6890". National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR). Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  2. ^ "Somerset, Wells Cathedral of St. Andrew, Dean & Chapter Of Wells N06890". National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR). Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  3. ^ "Somerset, Wells Cathedral of St. Andrew, Dean & Chapter Of Wells N06891". National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR). Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  4. ^ "Somerset, Wells Cathedral of St. Andrew, Dean & Chapter Of Wells N06892". National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR). Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  5. ^ "Somerset, Wells Cathedral of St. Andrew, Dean & Chapter Of Wells N06893". National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR). Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  6. ^ "Walter Bagele". Biographical Dictionary of the Organ. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  7. ^ "Matthew Owens". Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  8. ^ Wells Cathedral, Jeremy Cole - Director of Music. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  9. ^ Thornsby, 1912 page 264
  10. ^ Thornsby, 1912 page 286
  11. ^ Thornsby, 1912 page 251
  12. ^ Thornsby, 1912 page 309

Bibliography

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  • Thornsby, Frederick W. (1926). Dictionary Of Organs And Organists. H. Logan.