…… A brief study of the life of a Methodist Hymnologist, Musician, Author, Teacher and Cyclist

Hymn number 27 in the 1933 Methodist Hymn Book, "Angels holy, High and lowly" is set to the tune Lytham St. Annes, composed by James Thomas Lightwood. At that time Mr. Lightwood was the organist at The Drive Methodist Church, St Annes. In his book "The Music of the Methodist Hymn Book" (pub. Epworth in 1935, and much more about that later) the author said the tune came to him whilst on a bicycle tour in the Lake District. It was first brought into use at the Drive Wesleyan Church in 1900. He wrote four other tunes but none survived in popularity to be included in Hymns and Psalms.

Who was this man that in the late 1890's and until he died in 1944 was such a well known character in Lytham and widely known in Methodism and beyond as very knowledgeable in Hymnology and especially on the Music of Hymns? Not to mention his notoriety as a cyclist. His father was a Wesleyan Minister the Rev Edward Lightwood who entered the ministry in 1841 and on his retirement came to live with one of his sons at Lytham and died in 1892. After his training at The Theological Institution he served in the following Circuits: Hereford; Wantage; Birmingham (Cherry Street); Leeds Brunswick; Lambeth; London City Road after which he had a period as a Supernumerary and then returned to the full work at Budleigh Salterton; Llandudno; Croydon; Bolton, Park Street; Southport, Mornington Road; London St. John's Wood and Croydon and then retired to Lytham in 1884.

James Thomas was born whilst his father was in the Leeds Brunswick Circuit and was baptised there. Many years later, when his musical knowledge expanded and he was writing profusely on Hymn Tunes and Hymnody, it is not surprising that in his book "Stories of Methodist Music" he had a chapter on the Booth Organ at Brunswick. This was the organ at the centre of the great controversy in 1827 and led to a secession of 1000 members from Wesleyan Methodism and resulted in the formation of the Protestant Methodist Connexion.

His education began at Kingswood School in 1866 until 1872. His older brother, Edward Rich, left the previous year being a pupil at Kingswood from 1857- 65. He graduated from London University with a B.A. and became Headmaster at a Private School, Pembroke House in Lytham. His brother was to join him, as the story will show.

The new Kingswood School, replacing the original building founded by Wesley in 1748, was opened in 1851 near Bath. By 1873, the year after James left, the school was reorganised in order to promote the growing interest in higher education. Kingswood was from then onwards used as an upper school, with Woodhouse Grove School as its junior department for eight years. There is little doubt that these were formative years and must have influenced the two brothers in their educational enterprise at Lytham.

The exhaustive History of Kingswood School published in 1898 written by three Old Boys,1 has vivid accounts of life at the school. A change took place with the advent of two masters Mr. Woolmer and Mr Jefferson. Prior to that discipline left a lot to be desired. There was frequent bullying, one boy describes how he sank from fourth to fifteenth in his class, being in dread through threats of those who promised a sound thrashing if he did not get down into a class below! "Faction" fights formed a savage occupation in playhours, some boys got out at night and there was a general concern about the religious experience of scholars. It was reported in 1855 that in that year there was not a single boy who made a profession of religion.

At times there were two factions "saints" and "anti-saints" but as the authors of the history comment there was always a remnant in Israel. "The Firearms Row" of 1861, whilst Edward Lightwood was there, revealed that several boys were in possession of pistols and one blew his hand off in the racquet courts. Henry Jefferson became headmaster in 1855 until his resignation in 1865. He was small of stature but the boys found him a heavyweight in discipline. Novels of which he disapproved he confiscated; he sought to create a better taste for poetry, history and science. He took a special interest in pupils who needed extra care and was renowned for making the boys think for themselves.

In 1860 an outbreak of scarlet fever affected 50 boys and four masters and six servants one boy died. It is not clear whether the eldest of the Lightwood boys was amongst them. The Governor, as distinct from the Headmaster, at the time Edward James went to Kingswood was the Rev. F. A. West a former President of Conference. He intended to rule with a firm hand, and rule he did. Like his predecessor, he encouraged a gentlemanly tone among the boys; nor did he forget their material well being, as, for example, when he improved the arrangements for warming the schoolroom. However when windows were stoned (have we not heard of this in these enlightened times?), though the nights were severely cold it was many a long day before the glazier was called to do the necessary repairs. He was not popular with the pupils. One incident records how on one occasion two boys were summoned to Mr. West's study "in consequence", to quote the account of one of them, "of some altogether unconscious act of irreverence during prayers. As it was our first offence, the governor assured us he would be merciful to us, and be content with half-measures. I was to be flogged and the other boy was to look on and take warning!"

Mr. West was often in pain and this brought irritability and concealed the natural buoyancy of his temperament. The truth was he regarded all his students with much tenderness in spite of inflicting the hard discipline of his time. He was a man of refined tastes, who took much interest in music, which he added to the curriculum. I wonder if this was the beginning of James Thomas's love for music, one never knows? Perhaps not, for in his autobiographical comment in The Music of the Methodist Hymn-Book" 2 on the Tune Lytham St Annes he wrote "ironically" '……he passed both Oxford and Cambridge Local Examinations in every subject except music!! . One of the questions --------- 'Write out "God Save the Queen," utterly floored him.

The successor to the Rev West was eventually T. G. Osborn and he would be the one to have the most influence on James T. The success of the school under his headmastership was described as brilliant in the extreme. He was able to create a great loyalty from the boys, though no less a disciplinarian as his predecessors. He was described as a skilful teacher and called forth a great enthusiasm for learning. His expertise was mathematics, but surprised the pupils with his understanding and knowledge of literature.

One can also think of the influence upon the brothers of the various colleagues and people in the Circuit as their father pursued the itinerant ministry. Men like John Lomas and Dr. Frederick Jobson, Samuel Coley and other influential ministers were at City Road as his father's contemporaries. They were obviously never put off the Wesleyan Church, both became Local Preachers and were to serve the Church with distinction and expertise in their various fields and the wider community as local councillors, beside their special sphere of education.

After his schooldays, James Lightwood, served for three years with Mawer and Collingham, drapers of Lincoln. He was able to pursue his special hobby of music and played several organs in the village chapels and churches around Lincoln. It seems that he persuaded one of the Cathedral singers to assist in the chapel choir on Sunday evenings. During this time, in the wide countryside he began his second love, that of cycling and eventually became well known in cycling circles throughout the country. His machine at that time was 'a real old bone shaker' with iron rims and a 36-inch front wheel and a 30-inch back wheel.

He left Lincoln in 1876 and went to I. J. and G. Cooper's drapery warehouse in Liverpool. After a year he found this 'vocation uncongenial' and turned to education. Turning his thoughts to education he secured the, (an appointment?) at the school called "College House" at Edmonton, at which John Gilpin had been a pupil. [interesting diversion…John Gilpin is the subject of a comic poem relating the tale of a linen draper and his anniversary holiday, beset with misfortune from stat to finish. The tale was told by Lady Austen to William Cowper to help him in his times of depression. Cowper became fascinated with Gilpin's story and adapted it to a classical ballad which was published in 1782. It had worldwide fame it was translated into much language and reprinted in more than one hundred editions.) In later years Cowper took an active dislike to the poem. There is a Gilpin's Bell monument in Edmonton High Street.]

In an interview with the Lytham Times 3 in 1899, he described this change "as fortunate as it was sudden; and the fact that led to his appointment, was, he afterwards learnt, due to a short business-like letter he wrote applying for the post. He particularly mentioned that much time in the summer was absorbed in cricket, keeping wicket for his side and had a batting average of 24 in the first season.

Further north in the last quarter of the 19th Century a number of private schools were established in Lytham, Ansdell and St. Annes. No doubt the wealthier people of the cotton towns sent their children to the coast, and indeed a good number had houses in the area. The Lightwood's were to make a distinctive contribution to the growth of these educational establishments. Whilst James Thomas was enjoying his new career in Edmonton, his brother, Mr. Edward R. Lightwood, B.A and later to become a J.P., turned his thoughts to the opening of a school in Lytham. His plans to open Pembroke College was realised in 1878/79. R.A. Haley4 writes "the school was rather exclusive, fees were upwards of 80 guineas per annum and boys were prepared for university and commercial life."

The school was very popular and soon Edward Lightwood found, in the early planning stage it would be too much for one person to organise. The result was that Mr. James joined him in 1879 and so the College was truly launched. He described it as the 'long famous boarding school'. This educational partnership, of the Lightwood brothers, was highly successful. Pembroke House boys gained high positions in many walks of life. Things began to change a little by the end of the century. In his Lytham Times interview in 1899 he commented, " The boys do not stop at school as long as they used to. There seems to be a greater desire on the part of the parents to get them into business. The boys themselves get an idea from their fathers' talk and become impatient to get into the world. Afterwards they are sorry they were in such a hurry. Still the supply was maintained".

In reply to the interviewer's question "if any of the boys were occupying positions of prominence?" he cited names and positions. "Two Musgraves were at the head of a large engineering works in Bolton; three Walker's manage a large tannery at Bolton; Codd had become the leading physician in Wolverhampton; Fred Parker had become editor of an important paper in India; Peel Powell was at the head of the well-known biscuit manufacturers in Preston; other boys had become solicitors etc.; and some had gone out to India, Australia and America. In the world of athletics (sport) Joe Eccles was in the Lancashire County Cricket team for many years after leaving the school and was recognised as one of the 'prettiest' bats in England at one time. He learnt all his cricket at Pembroke House. Fred Harper had played for Lancashire, and in the old days was one of the Blackburn Rovers team. W. Walker had been captain of the Bolton cricket team and for some years also played for Lancashire County in the Association game; three brothers Brown, of Croydon, had done well both in sport and business." He further commented ".. the present boys had some excellent examples before them, both in serious and recreative pursuits." The brothers were duly proud of the success of their pupils and must have taken an interest in them long after they left their school.

James T Lightwood also served the community with devotion. For three years he was a member of the old Board of Improvement Commissioners. At the time when Lytham was developing he was a member of the Council for six years. He served as Chairman of the Streets Committee for four years, his resolution to bring gas into Fairhaven was eventually carried by one vote. Apart from music his other great love was cycling. Reference has already been made to how he commenced cycling in 1874, on a 'boneshaker'. By 1885 he was a member of the Cyclists Touring Club and soon gained prominence. He was chief Consul for Lancashire and a member of the Council of CTC from 1887. Honorary Life-membership came in 1907 in recognition of his services to the Club and in particular with the publication of the club's route books and other writings.

As Consul he was responsible for giving information about routes in Lancashire, together with appointment of suitable hotels and accommodation along the routes. This must have entailed a great deal of hard work in researching and in cycling many miles. Volume 3 of the "Routes in Lancashire" was jointly produced by Mr. Lightwood and a Mr. Oxley. His appointment as Chairman of the CTC General Purposes Committee meant he had to make many journeys to London, but not many by cycle, I guess, because of the pressure of time. He made a claim, and as far as I know, it was never challenged, to have broken the record of cycling 20,000 miles without an accident to himself or his cycle. He maintained that he had ridden 14,000 miles on his cycle to attend Church services and 'boasted' that his Rover cycle did 30,000 miles, another 9,000 miles and he kept all his old ones. There were few roads he did not travel on and especially in East Anglia and he described journeys that meant crossing streams and carrying his machine along the beds of quick flowing streams. He produced his later route maps from the recent Government Survey Maps 1" to the mile. Earlier he used maps more than forty years old, these had no reference to some of the places we just take for granted in this part of Lancashire. The full story of the CTC must have many more references to the pioneering work done by James Lightwood and that means much more detailed research.

Of course Music was his great love and Hymnody in particular and more so Methodist Hymnody. He was an accomplished organist and after two years as deputy-organist at The Drive Wesleyan Church, St. Annes, he was appointed as Honorary Organist and Choirmaster in 1894. When the pressure of work due to his appointment as Editor of the new Methodist Publication, “The Choir” and organising the newly formed Music Department of the Methodist Publishing House, the trustees at The Drive made him a grant of £20 to assist him in his researches in Hymnology. Whilst he was advising Methodism on musical matters he found the unique 1761 Snetzler organ for the New Room at Bristol. In his Lytham days as organist he was quick to recognise the need for a further selection of Hymns for congregational use that were not included in the old Methodist Hymn Book. The 1780 "Collection of

The Fylde Chant Book became very popular beyond the bounds of the Circuit. It was subsequently adopted in Bolton, Rotherham, Manchester and further afield. By 1910 some 100,000 copies had been sold. The 1920 edition was published complete with the Communion Service and the Order of Service for the Ministration of Baptism. This might well indicate the growing sacramental practices of the Wesleyan Church. He was in great demand as a lecturer on all matters connected with church music and all this was part of his passion that more people should "recognise that church music should play a more conspicuous part in public worship than it has done (in the past)."

Thus in 1910, he was to retire from his colleagueship with his brother at Pembroke House, though he retained accommodation in Lytham, he was resident in London, to be close to the centre of his new responsibilities. He travelled round the country to foster interest in Church music as the adviser to the newly formed music department at the Publishing House and to help him in his editorship of 'The Choir'. The music department was created jointly with the Rev Dr. F. L. Wiseman, who later became the chairman of the committee preparing the 1933 Methodist Hymn Book. 'The Choir', published monthly, was described as a magazine devoted chiefly to church music and hymnology and after its first year of publication continued in 1911 to 1954, as 'The Choir and Musical Journal'. Again the old name was retained and from 1955 to 1964 was published as 'The Choir'. After that it was succeeded in part by 'Mosaic'.

We turn now to his book "Hymn-Tunes and their Story" published in 1905 by the Methodist Publishing House, Charles H. Kelly, London. The book was dedicated to "All who love the service of song in the House of the Lord". Beside his task as teacher, cyclist, Trustee at The Drive and his community involvement, he was busy researching and writing hundreds of letters to people all over the world. He was preparing for his first major publication "Hymn Tunes and Their Story" in 1905. This provoked correspondence from all over the world; people commenting on its contents and enquiries came as to why some tunes had not been mentioned. He spent much time in the British Museum Reading room and the Dr. Henry Watson Library in Manchester besides visiting score of libraries in the major towns.

He described in the preface to this book "What has given me far greater enjoyment, however, has been to combine pleasure with research, and to go off on my bicycle to the villages and country districts, there to look up the oldest and most loquacious inhabitants, and hear from their memories of the singing and the tunes of bygone days."

There were nine chapters in the book: 1. The German Chorale; 2. The Rise of Modern Psalmody; 3. The Psalmody of the Seventeenth century; 4. Psalmody in the Eighteenth Century; 5. Music of The Methodist Revival; 6. Some Well-Known Eighteenth Century Tunes; 7. Some Well-Known Composers; 8. A Chat about 'Old Methodist Tunes'; 9. The Nineteenth Century; 10 The Names of Tunes and 11. Adaptations and arrangements. These chapters reveal fascinating information about composers, many ordinary musicians, about how their tunes became to be written and named.

In his chapter on Old Methodist Tunes, it interesting that his researches showed that, Thomas Jarman, born in a small village in Northamptonshire, a tailor by trade, became intensely interested in music and was engaged as a music teacher in surrounding villages. He published an enormous quantity of music, including over 600 hymn-tunes. He composed 'Nativity', and Lightwood comments "this was a tune which Methodists not only sing, but sing with all their might and main, and feel all the better for it.." He goes on to say that this was erroneously called Lyngham in many publications, but his later work on the Music of the Methodist Hymn Book, acknowledges that it is has assumed the latter name. One cannot doubt that this work of Lightwood has been of immense help to all who have done research on Hymnody in recent years. His relating of the stories behind the tunes and the composer is always fascinating and illuminating.

In the LIFE AND WORK SERIES published by The Epworth Press in 1927 and 1928, two of Lightwood's Books were included, "Methodist Music of the eighteenth Century" and "Stories of Methodist Music". The latter contained some interesting reflections and anecdotes. In a previous Bulletin we reprinted his article on the Leeds Organ Case taken from this book. Other chapters highlight the controversies about the growing use of anthems, frowned upon by the early Conference of Preachers and told how, at the end of the eighteenth century, they decreed that 'No anthems were to be sung'; 'No organs allowed without the sanction of Conference'; and 'Great attention was to be paid to singing'. By 1805 Conference decreed, "Let no instruments pf music be introduced into the singers' seats, except a bass viol, should the principal singer require it". The sanction allowing bass viols to be used gradually led to other instruments being introduced.

It is impossible to record all the anecdotes and comments in this fascinating small volume. But, to use a pun, all was not harmonious in our early Chapels, as shown by a case in a small village chapel in Hertfordshire. It has for its theme the coming and going of a harmonium. One of the villagers, an unpopular and rather overbearing member of the Society, was anxious to introduce a harmonium into the chapel. His neighbours rather suspected that there were some private interest, possibly financial, behind his newly acquired musical enthusiasm. However, they finally yielded to his persuasions. It was soon found the acquisition was unacceptable and the good man was requested to move it. He absolutely refused, saying that by admitting it on chapel premises the trustees had become purchasers, and were responsible for payment. The trustees retorted by saying that if he did not remove it within a certain time, the offending instrument would be removed off the premises. When the congregation assembled on the following Sunday, they found the offending instrument fastened to the choir seats by a chain!.

A day or two afterwards two or three members quietly went to the chapel, filed through the chain, and conveyed the harmonium to the 'enemy's' house. Finding it shut up, they deposited their burden on the doorstep, where the unhappy victim found it when he returned home. Highly indignant, he promptly sought the aid of the law, but lost his case on a technical point.

Another major work of James T. was his Biography of Samuel Wesley Junior: Musician (1766-1837). A more recent writer, Dr. Eric Routley, in his book 'The Musical Wesley's' (pub. 1968) remarks that Lightwood's book on Samuel is the only full-scale account of the musician that exists. He comments that the biography was somewhat disorganised, but he could not blame Lightwood for that, he himself had great difficulty in piecing the story when he researched it. Samuel Wesley, the son of Charles Wesley, was a child prodigy. He showed musical talent at 3 and was described as 'the English Mozart' when he was eight years of age. In the musical life of London in his time, musical openings were barred to a 'Wesley'. He turned to Roman Catholicism for a time, and then returning to the establishment he became chiefly remembered as the first English apostle of J. S. Bach and was the father of Samuel Sebastian Wesley, the cathedral organist and composer. There is little doubt that James Lightwood spent much time on this work. The subject was a complicated character and his marriage was by no means straight-forward and though Routley claimed that Lightwood had been ambiguous on many details, we must still acclaim his work as an important contribution to the study of music and this side of the Wesley Family.

Readers will be most familiar with his book "The Music of the Methodist Hymn-Book" published in 1935 and a later edition in 1938. He subtitled it…" being the story of each tune with biographical notices of the composers". This of course referred to the 1933 Hymn Book brought out soon after Methodist Union. There is a useful introduction indicating the sources of Methodist Psalmody. Lightwood was fond of using that word Psalmody. Each Hymn Tune, more than nine hundred in total, is described as to its origin, together with details of the author. It is a mine of fascinating information and still very much used today together with the Companion to The Hymns and Psalms. This is the most popular legacy of James T. Lightwood as far as Methodists are concerned.

Frequent contributions were made to the Proceedings of the Wesley Historical Society. They covered a variety of topics, from the Charlestown Hymn Book produced by Wesley in his early years in Georgia. He spent time in the Bodleian Library in Oxford and listed books on Wesley and Methodism held there. American Methodist Hymnals did not escape his notice and he brought enlightenment on Thomas Coke's edition of Charles Wesley's Hymns. In an article in the Proceedings, he drew attention to the fact of a link between Handel and the Wesleys. He revealed that Samuel Wesley (see above) had discovered in the Fitzwilliam Library at Cambridge, three tunes in Handel's handwriting and set to three of Charles Wesley's Hymns - 'Rejoice the Lord is King'; 'Sinners obey the Gospel word' and 'O Love Divine, how sweet thou art'. It is not known whether Handel met the Wesley Brothers, but his tunes mark an interesting tribute to them.

In 1903, the Rev William Blackburn Fitzgerald, who formulated the idea of the Wesley Guild, produced an interesting book with the title 'The Roots of Methodism'. Contrary to common belief he was the originator of the phrase 'The Four Alls of Methodism' and they are set out in this book. It was intended to explain the meaning and purpose of Methodism in his day. For our purpose we note that the final chapter in the book is one by James T Lightwood on, again, 'Methodist Hymns and Tunes'. It is a useful and concise summary of sources on the subject and shows that by this time the authority of Lightwood was being recognised. In recent years he spent a great deal of his time directing the newly formed Music Department at The Publishing House and editing the Choir Magazine. It is good to know that someone from this part of the world had such influence and knowledge on what was then, and is still, an important part of our life as a Methodist people, the singing of hymns in our Worship, they are the major source of theology for so many people.

However before we come to his final days, we go back to 1912. In that year Mr. Lightwood wrote an intriguing book. There is little doubt that the novels of Charles Dickens would feature large in the English Literature curriculum at Pembroke House. Furthermore one could guess that his novels would be well read by James T. This supposition is supported by the fact that one of his writings has the title "Charles Dickens and Music". It was published in October 1912 by Charles Kelly (Methodist Publishing House) and has this dedication in the front
"In pleasant memories of many happy years at Pembroke, House, Lytham"

One could not imagine that the works of Dickens were a mere chore to him with such a dedication. Of course the main interest is that he combined his musical love with a special research on one of the most popular authors of the time. In the Introduction, James T. Lightwood mentions the fact that there are many musical references in Dicken's works. He maintained that Charles Dickens, more than any other novelist, made an extensive use of music to illustrate his characters and create incidents in his novels. These references to music " reflect the nicety of the general condition of ordinary musical life during the middle of the nineteenth century…. They reveal the story of musical life in the home, the popular songs of that period and point to the average musical attainments of the middle and lower classes"

Lightwood was surprised to find that in an 1897stu dy outlining the history of music during the first 50 years of Queen Victoria's reign, there was no mention of Dickens. He sought to rectify this in this book. He goes on to suggest that Secretaries of Literary Societies and Secretaries of Guilds ought to arrange some meetings that included the rendering of music with references to the works of Dickens.

The Contents list of the Book is interesting:
'Dickens as a musician: Instrumental Combinations: Various instruments… including the flute, the organ and the guitar: Church Music and Songs and Singers (of the time)'

He quotes Dickens' comment on Singing (in Chapel in contrast to singing in Church!)
"The hymn is sung - not by paid singers but by the whole assembly at the loudest pitch of their voice, unaccompanied by any musical instrument, the words being given out, two lines at a time by the clerk"

At the end of the book there is a list of songs and musicians found in the novels. Lightwood's book, now long out of print, is worthy to be sought and read. There is a copy in the Local History Department at St. Annes Library.

There is little doubt in the later years of his life, he never lost an interest in music. He was a familiar figure in the community, he never married, music and cycling had occupied his time. His sister lived with him for many years. He died in 1944 at the age of 87, whilst a patient in a nursing home in Ansdell. The local papers recorded his death and had brief tributes, inadequate though for such a man who had spent his life and given his talents to the promotion of the study of hymnology. The Rev G.P Lester, the Superintendent of the Lytham St. Annes Methodist Circuit, conducted the funeral service held in the Fairhaven Church. Present at the Service were a Mr and Mrs Reginald Powell who had extended friendship to him in his advanced years. I am grateful to Mrs Powell for allowing me to glance through some of his papers. Much more research could be done. I have not looked at the early copies of The Choir Magazine, they will surely reveal further evidence of his enthusiasm, knowledge and judgment about Hymnody and its place in the life and worship of the Methodist people up to the time of his death.

Footnotes:
1. The History of Kingswood School by Three Old Boys; Charles Kelly, London 1898. The subsequent paragraphs draw on material from this book.
2. The Music of the Methodist Hymn-Book" by James T Lightwood, Epworth Press 1935 Pg. 31
3. Published on Saturday 2 September 1899
4. R.A. Haley: "Lytham St. Annes Pictorial History" from which the accompanied picture of Pembroke House is taken.
5.. Lytham Times August 19, 1910

Books by James T Lightwood Hymn Tunes and Their Story Charles Dickens and Music Music and Literature Methodist Music in the 18th Century Stories of Methodist Music The Music of the Methodist Hymn-Book Samuel Wesley A Chapter in the Roots of Methodism (Fitzgerald) The Methodist Archives has a complete copy of The Choir Magazine edited by him. Articles in the Proceedings of the WHS: i 116f; ii 55, 147f, 196; iii 237; v 101; ix 18f; xii 145f, 169; xiv 3,5; Many articles on cycling and maps etc for the CTC