Jude, William Herbert

Composer

b Westleton, nr Aldeburgh, Suffolk 1851, d Willesden, Middx 1922. During early years at Wisbech Grammar Sch, Cambs, he wrote incidental music from the age of 8 onwards for school productions of Shakespeare and other plays. His early musical ability led him to be placed in the care of his uncle D C Browne, a notable Liverpool organist and composer. At 14 he became organist of one of Liverpool’s finest parish churches, chosen from over 30 candidates; later he took up a similar post at the Blue Coat Hospital (orphan school). He gave widely-acclaimed recitals in Liverpool (15), Glasgow, London and Belfast, opened over 1000 organs, and with choral assistance revived all Purcell’s published works. Later he was the organist at Myrtle St Chapel’s crowded Sunday evening services. He founded and led the Liverpool Organ Sch, adjudicated at many Welsh music festivals, and was specially gifted in composing songs for male voices. In 1890 he sailed to Australia for a concert tour, and during this time he made a new commitment to Christ which from then on clearly focused his musical and speaking engagements on the gospel. Once his train was derailed by the great Brisbane floods, leaving him with a great mixture of fellow-passengers stranded for two weeks in the mountains. His Sundays in Australia and New Zealand were often filled with a great variety of musical commitments, from Cathedral to Opera House (for services) and from Wesleyan Chapel to Gospel Service. He had a special ministry among many who were poor, elderly or disabled, and to convicts in the penal settlements. In 1894 he returned to England, declined all professional offers and gave himself fully to gospel work at Liverpool’s Hope Hall and elsewhere. He compiled several hymn selections including the Mission Hymnal, Ministry of Music, and Music and the Higher Life. Later editions of the latter carried an anonymous 19-page biographical sketch. His tunes were usually set to texts by classic Victorian hymnwriters, but also those by Milton, Wesley, Toplady etc and some of his own. Nos.272*, 813.