The ashes of Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, eminent musician, were buried in the north choir aisle of Westminster Abbey, near the graves of Henry Purcell, John Blow and William Sterndale Bennett.
The funeral service was held on 3rd April 1924. Adrian Boult, who succeeded Sir Charles as professor at the Royal College of Music, conducted the College orchestra in the nave. Prior to the service they played the prelude to Stanford's Stabat Mater and the slow movement of his symphony in D. His setting of The Lord is my Shepherd was sung by the Abbey choir and his tune to the hymn "Now the labourer's task is o'er" was used. His Funeral March from Beckett concluded the burial service.
The inscription on the gravestone reads:
SIR
CHARLES
VILLIERS
STANFORD
BORN 30TH SEPTEMBER 1852
DIED 29TH MARCH 1924
A GREAT
MUSICIAN
His life
Charles was born in Dublin, son of John James Stanford and his wife Mary (Henn), both amateur musicians. He was educated in Dublin and took organ lessons at the cathedral. Later he was a choral scholar at Queens' College, Cambridge and studied in Berlin.
On 6th April 1878 he married Jane (or Jennie) Wetton (died 1941) and they had two children, Geraldine and Guy. His works included operas, choral music and symphonies and he is well known for his Anglican cathedral music. He also published collections of Irish folk songs and was conductor of the London Bach Choir. His Te Deum was sung at the coronation of Edward VII in 1902 and he was knighted afterwards, and his Gloria in Excelsis was sung at the 1911 coronation. His many pupils included Herbert Howells and Ralph Vaughan Williams, both of whom lie buried near him.
On 28th April 2024 a centenary year wreath laying was held at the grave by The Stanford Society.
Further reading
Paul Rodmell "Charles Villiers Stanford", 2002
J. Dibble "Charles Villiers Stanford: man and musician", 2002
This image can be purchased from Westminster Abbey Library
Image © 2025 Dean and Chapter of Westminster
