H. Hugh Bancroft
Encyclopedia
Henry Hugh Bancroft
was a British
organist
and composer
who was organist of five
cathedrals.
He was born in Cleethorpes
, Lincolnshire
,
and studied music with E.P. Guthrie and J.S. Robinson in nearby Grimsby
.
He attained the FRCO diploma in 1928.
He was then organist of Old Clee
parish church, and was supplementing his
modest income by playing in the local theatre and by working as a compass adjuster.
Seeking better prospects, he left for Canada in 1929 to become organist
of St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1936 while at St. Matthew's,
he earned an external BMus from Durham University
.
After nine years, he left for the Church of the Ascension in Hamilton, Ontario
,
but stayed there only nine months.
In 1937, he was back in Winnipeg, at the downtown parish of All Saints,
where he developed a men and boys choir of national renown,
and initiated choral evensongs on the model of the Church of England
cathedrals. Also in Winnipeg, he met and married his wife Eldred Curle.
From 1946 to 1948 he was organist of
Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver,
British Columbia, director of the Vancouver Bach Choir, and
an instructor at the British Columbia Institute of Music and Drama.
He left Vancouver to become master of music at
St. Andrew's Cathedral
in Sydney, Australia,
but in 1953 returned to All Saints in Winnipeg.
On a visit to Cambridge University on his way back from Australia,
he experienced the annual Advent Carol service of King's College,
and the next year introduced the tradition to Canada at All Saints' Church.
He was briefly at Christ Church Cathedral in Nassau, Bahamas
,
before moving to All Saints' Cathedral
in Edmonton, Alberta in 1958, where he remained until his retirement in 1980. From 1968 to 1977 he also taught for the Department of Music of
the University of Alberta
in Edmonton.
was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
who was organist of five
cathedrals.
He was born in Cleethorpes
Cleethorpes
Cleethorpes is a town and unparished area in North East Lincolnshire, England, situated on the estuary of the Humber. It has a population of 31,853 and is a seaside resort.- History :...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
,
and studied music with E.P. Guthrie and J.S. Robinson in nearby Grimsby
Grimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
.
He attained the FRCO diploma in 1928.
He was then organist of Old Clee
Old Clee
Old Clee is located in the Clee Road and Carr Lane area of eastern Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, England and adjoins the neighbouring town of Cleethorpes, with which it has historic links. Previously a separate village, its parish church of Holy Trinity and Saint Mary, claimed to be the oldest...
parish church, and was supplementing his
modest income by playing in the local theatre and by working as a compass adjuster.
Seeking better prospects, he left for Canada in 1929 to become organist
of St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1936 while at St. Matthew's,
he earned an external BMus from Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
.
After nine years, he left for the Church of the Ascension in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
,
but stayed there only nine months.
In 1937, he was back in Winnipeg, at the downtown parish of All Saints,
where he developed a men and boys choir of national renown,
and initiated choral evensongs on the model of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
cathedrals. Also in Winnipeg, he met and married his wife Eldred Curle.
From 1946 to 1948 he was organist of
Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver,
British Columbia, director of the Vancouver Bach Choir, and
an instructor at the British Columbia Institute of Music and Drama.
He left Vancouver to become master of music at
St. Andrew's Cathedral
St. Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney
St Andrew's Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney in the Anglican Church of Australia. The cathedral is the seat of the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of New South Wales, the Most Reverend Peter Jensen...
in Sydney, Australia,
but in 1953 returned to All Saints in Winnipeg.
On a visit to Cambridge University on his way back from Australia,
he experienced the annual Advent Carol service of King's College,
and the next year introduced the tradition to Canada at All Saints' Church.
He was briefly at Christ Church Cathedral in Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
,
before moving to All Saints' Cathedral
All Saints' Anglican Cathedral (Edmonton)
All Saint's Anglican Cathedral is the cathedral serving the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton, which covers central Alberta. It serves as the episcopal seat of the Bishop of Edmonton, currently The Right Reverend Dr. Jane Alexander.-Building:...
in Edmonton, Alberta in 1958, where he remained until his retirement in 1980. From 1968 to 1977 he also taught for the Department of Music of
the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
in Edmonton.
Honours
- FRCCO (Royal Canadian College of Organists) 1976
- DMus (Cantuar) 1977
- LL D (Alberta) 1980