Sir Frederick Bridge

Musician and Composer

Sir John Frederick Bridge, organist of Westminster Abbey, has a memorial tablet on the wall of the west cloister of Westminster Abbey. It was unveiled by the Sub-Dean on 26th May 1925. Bridge's service in G and his anthem "God's goodness hath been great to thee" were sung, as well as his setting of Tennyson's "Sunset and evening star".

The stone tablet, by Eric Gill, has an inscription painted in red and black and this reads:

SIR FREDERICK BRIDGE C.V.O. Emeritus Organist, Organist of Westminster Abbey 1882-1918. Faithful in service, skilled in music, loving in friendship. Born 5 December 1844. Died 18 March 1924.

His life

He was born at Oldbury in Worcestershire and was a son of John Bridge, who became a Lay Vicar at Rochester cathedral in Kent, and his wife Rebecca (Cox). Frederick was a chorister at Rochester and attended Queen's College Oxford. He was later organist at various churches including Manchester cathedral. He studied music under John Goss.

In 1875 he was deputy organist and master of the choristers at Westminster Abbey under James Turle and succeeded him in the posts in 1882. His residence was at Litlyngton Tower in the Little Cloister. He was also a professor of music and of organ, and conductor and composer of the Royal Choral Society. In 1897 he was knighted.

He conducted the choirs at the 1887 Jubilee service for Queen Victoria and was Director of Music at the 1902 and 1911 coronations. He was editor of the Westminster Abbey Hymn Book and composed anthems. The Organists' Benevolent Fund was founded by him. Musical festivals for Henry Purcell, Orlando Gibbons, and Samuel Sebastian Wesley were held in the Abbey during his time.

In 1872 he married, at Hoxne in Suffolk, Constance Ellen Moore (1847-1879). His second wife was Helen Amphlett whom he married in Westminster Abbey on 3rd January 1883, and he also married his third wife Marjory Wedgwood Wood in the Abbey in 1914.

His three children were baptised in the Abbey: son Reginald in 1877 (he married Margaret Nix), daughter Mabel in 1878 (she married Frederick Norcup, lay vicar of Westminster Abbey), and Rosalind Flora in 1884. Rosalind married Edward Stainer, physician, (son of Sir John Stainer) in the Abbey in 1907 and several of their children were baptised there. Frederick's brother Joseph (who married Mary Gibbons), was organist of Chester cathedral.

He died at his home in the Abbey cloisters and his memorial service was held in the Abbey on 21st March. He was buried at Glass in Aberdeenshire where he had a residence.