History

William Heather, composer and singer, was buried in the south transept of Westminster Abbey on 1 August 1627. During a commemoration service in 1926 a stone was unveiled by Viscount Cave near the monument to Heather's old friend William Camden. The inscription reads:

"In memory of William Heather D.Mus. Born 1563 Died 1627: buried near this spot: singer of the Abbey Choir Gentleman of the Chapel Royal: founder of the music professorship at Oxford 1626: This stone is inscribed on the three hundredth anniversary May 11 1926 by the University of Oxford."

His parentage is not known but he was born at Harmondsworth in Middlesex. He was a Lay Vicar in the Abbey choir from 1586-1615 and a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal from 1615. He lived in the Abbey Almonry but had lands in Kent. On 24 June 1589 he married Margery Fryer at St Margaret's Westminster. She was buried with him on 6 September 1635. No children were mentioned in their wills.

A photo of the stone and portrait engraving can be purchased from Westminster Abbey Library.

Further reading:

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004.