Fawcett, John (C)

Composer

b Wennington, nr Kirkby Lonsdale, Lancs 1789, d Bolton, Lancs 1867. A shoemaker by trade, he was musically self-taught and eventually able to leave his business to become a psalmodist and professional musician. Skilled at clarinet, piano and organ, he became a military bandmaster and an organist and choirmaster at St George’s Kendal (1806–17); he then directed the choir and band of the Wesleyan Sunday School at Farnworth nr Bolton until 1825, when he began a decade of service to two Bolton chapels, Wesleyan Methodist and Congregational, by way of assisting his son’s ministry there. He trained several local choirs and published 6 collections of hymns and other music. (Not to be confused with the composer John F, 1740–1817; according to Grove, the extended Fawcett family feature 36 known professional musicians.) No.965.