"PLAYING YERELY AT THE ORGAYNS AND SINGYNGE IN THE QUYER…"

A Brief Synopsis of the History of the Music at Banbury Parish Church

with grateful acknowledgement to F.E. Burroughes & Banbury Historical Society

1500s

In 1523 the Guild of St Mary, a chantry foundation of the Parish Church, was given “a pair of orgayns”.  At this time, a pair of organs simply meant a large positive instrument, probably standing in the Rood Loft.  These “Orgayns”, about which we have no other details, were set up in the church, and in February 1523 Anthony Cokes was appointed as first Organist and Choirmaster of Banbury Parish Church. His wage was £4-13-4d yearly.

Soon after the Restoration we find the Churchwardens referring to the Musicians’ Gallery and the repair of the instruments, so that we can guess that at Banbury, as elsewhere, there was a band of instrumentalists to lead the singing. We do not know exactly when these instrumentalists started to perform at the Parish Church, but it was before the end of the 17th century.