The remains of the late Mr. John Chaundy, of 49 Broad Street, whose death was recorded last week, were interred in St. Sepulchre’s Cemetery on Monday. Mr. Chaundy had for many years conducted a business as a dealer in engravings and pictures. He had been in failing health for the past two years, and gradually sank to sleep on Thursday morning the 23rd January, surrounded by his friends. He was for 17 years a lay clerk at Christ Church Cathedral during the time of the late organist, Dr. Corfe, retiring on a pension soon after the accession of Mr. Lloyd. He will, however, be chiefly remembered by Oxonians for the very valuable and self-denying labour which he undertook in connection with the choir of the Church of England Temperance Society. For upwards of ten years, Mr. Chaundy conducted a voluntary choir which he himself had organised to assist the cause of temperance in Oxford and the surrounding towns and villages. He gave many successful entertainments with the help of this choir of Abingdon, Deddington, Charlbury, Headington, Appleton, Wooton, Littlemore and many other places. The popular concerts at the Town Hall were maintained, too, for several winters by the same means, as a support for the work which has been so successfully carried on by means of the various University Musical Societies. Notwithstanding all his work, however, Mr. Chaundy found time to act as conductor to various church and other choirs in the district. At St. Frideswide’s, St. Ebbes and at Littlemore, his services were much appreciated and very valuable. Some two years ago, circumstances compelled him to resign much of his work, not the least compulsory of which was an inward complaint , which was gradually reducing his vital energy. We have no further space to mention the various testimonials which Mr. Chaundy had received, but it is due to his memory to say his services were too valuable to be adequately recompensed in this way, as his work outside the calls of his large business, was undertaken for the love of God, and the advancement of the cause of temperance which was so dear to his heart.
The first portion of the burial service took place in St. Michael’s Church, with which the late Mr. Chaundy had been connected. The body was received at the door by the Rev. Andrew Clark and the cathedral choir, of which the deceased was formerly a member. The opening sentences were intoned as the procession moved to the chancel, where the hymn “Lead Kindly Light” was sung under the conductorship of Mr. Lloyd. The choir also sang the psalm, and, after the lesson, rendered the hymn “The Saints of God.” The Nunc Dimitis” was chanted as a processional to the porch, where the choir divided to the right and left, and the coffin which was covered in beautiful wreathes, was borne between the lines. It was conveyed in an open hearse, followed by three coaches for the mourners, to the cemetery. At the gates it was met by a choir, the adult portion of which were friends or pupils of the deceased, both Churchmen and Nonconformists, the boys coming from St. Michael’s Church. They sang the hymn “The King of love my Shepherd is” on the way to the grave. The service was conducted by the Rev. H. A. Pickard, the choir intoning the responses. At the conclusion, the hymn commencing “There is a blessed home” was given. The mourners included the widow, the deceased’s seven sons, and a brother and sister, and a large number of persons attended who had been associated with him in choirs and various musical societies with which he was connected, and by which he was much esteemed.
Following abuse of my email address under the Harassment Act 1997,
my cousin Bob has kindly agreed to accept email on my behalf at Bob Chaundy