Biography of W. T. Best

Best, William Thomas. Studied at Carlisle Cathedral under Abraham Young. Organist of Pembroke Road Chapel, Liverpool, 1840-55; the Church for the Blind, Liverpool, 1847; the Panopticon, London, 1852; St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London, 1852-54; Lincoln’s Inn Chapel, 1854; St. George’s Hall, Liverpool, 1855-94, gained in a competition against Dr Samuel Sebastian Wesley; Wallasey Parish Church, Birkenhead, 1860; Holy Trinity, Liverpool, 1863; West Derby Parish Church, 1879. Engaged in 1871 to give recitals at the Royal Albert Hall (stayed for only a short time). Solo Organist at the Handel festival at the Crystal Palace. Opened the organ in Sydney Town Hall, 1890. Was one of the greatest English Organists of his time. Received a Civil List pension of £100 per annum. Composed church services, anthems, organ pieces, &c. Author of “The Art of Organ Playing”; and “Modern School for the Organ”. Did numerous transcriptions for the organ. b. Carlisle, England, Aug. 13^th, 1826; d. Liverpool, May 10^th, 1897 (buried in Childwell Churchyard).

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