John Stainer was born to relatively humble circumstances on 6 June 1840. His father William originally hailed from Buckinghamshire, but by the time of John’s birth he was a schoolmaster at St. Thomas’s School in Southwark. John’s mother, Ann Collier, was descended from an old French Huguenot family. The Stainers lived in a modest house at 2, Broadway Southwark (later cleared for the building of London Bridge Station).
John Stainer’s early life may not have been blessed financially, but his home provided the basis and stimulation for his life-long dedication to music. A visitor to the family home remarked upon its having no fewer than five pianos and one chamber organ. William Stainer was a pianist, organist and keen flautist. John was at first taught the organ by his father. Towards the end of his life, John drew a pencil sketch of himself in his early years first attempting to play the family organ – he was so young that he had to stand to reach the keys and yet, by the age of seven, he had mastered Bach’s Fugue in E major.
In 1848 Stainer became a probationer at St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir School and was admitted as a full chorister in the following year. From all accounts, he appears to have possessed a fine and versatile singing voice. During his time as a chorister, he sang at the funeral of J. M. W. Turner (1851), and at that of the Duke of Wellington (1852).
Stainer’s singing duties did not impair his dedication to other branches of musical education. He received organ lessons at St. Sepulchre’s Church under George Cooper, and his ability was such that from time to time he played the organ of St. Paul’s. In 1854 he was appointed organist at the church of St. Benedict and St. Peter, St. Paul’s Wharf, London.
Perhaps the most fortunate incident in Stainer’s life occured in 1856. Sir Frederick Ousley was visiting St. Paul’s and heard the young Stainer performing on the cathedral organ. Ousley was struck by the young man’s talent and offered him the post of organist at Tenbury College, Worcestershire (an institution created by Ousley in the previous year to improve church music). Stainer accepted the offer and spent two years at Tenbury under the guidance of Ousley – a period which he acknowledged was of great importance in the development of his musical talent. While at Tenbury (1859), Stainer was examined successfully for the Oxford University Degree of Bachelor of Music (at that time it was not necessary to be resident in Oxford to acquire that qualification). Stainer matriculated for this degree through Christ Church College, Oxford.
In July 1860, Stainer was appointed organist at Magdalen College Oxford (an appointment which again may have been influenced by Ousley) and in the following year he became organist to the University. During that period he became a member of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, in order to study for a bachelor of arts degree, which he successfully completed in 1864. In November of the following year, Stainer gained his doctorate in music through composing the oratorio, Gideon, which was performed at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford. In 1866, he was awarded his M.A. by Oxford, and became a university examiner in music. In the latter capacity, Stainer examined the young Hubert Parry for the degree of Bachelor of Music (the composer Sir Hubert Parry is perhaps best remembered for the coronation anthem, I was Glad).
In 1872 Stainer gained the appointment which was destined to make his reputation, when he was selected to be the new organist at St. Paul’s Cathedral. During his tenure of that post, he devoted much time to composition. In 1882 he accepted the additional, but burdensome, post of government inspector of music at elementary school teacher training colleges. In that role he made regular visits to colleges throughout the length and breadth of the country, and interviewed many hundreds of trainee teachers. Queen Victoria bestowed a knighthood upon Stainer in 1888, in recognition of his services to music.
Stainer’s heavy work load took its toll. In 1888 he felt compelled to resign his post at St. Paul’s – he was particularly concerned that his eyesight was weakening, and he returned to live in Oxford. During his time at Magdalen College, Stainer had met and married (1865) Eliza Cecil, the daughter of Alderman Randall of Oxford, and the couple had retained a home in Oxford throughout Sir John’s time at St. Paul’s. Stainer’s health recovered, and in 1889 he accepted the professorship of music at Oxford, a post which he retained until 1899. In that capacity Stainer both lectured and examined students. Nevertheless, he may have become increasingly frustrated over difficulties in persuading the university to provide thorough training in music as an academic subject, and it is possible that he retired early rather than face protracted battles. During his tenure of the professorship, Stainer was an honorary fellow of Magdalen College.
In January 1901, the now retired Stainer embarked upon a European holiday with his wife. In Verona, en route to Venice, Sir John was taken ill, and died of heart failure on 31 March, aged sixty. His body was returned to England for his funeral, which was held on 6 April at St. Cross Church, Holywell, Oxford – the church which he had attended and served for many years and of which he was apparently very fond. So many people wished to pay their respects to the deceased that special coaches had to be added to the 1.45pm train from London, Paddington, to convey them to Oxford. Not only St. Cross Church but the cemetery and surrounding streets, were filled with mourners. Stainer’s coffin was laid to rest in Holywell cemetery, adjacent to the church. As a contributor to the Musical Times noted ‘ … the birds sang an appropriate Requiem’ as the coffin was laid to rest.
