Skeats, family

Stephen Elvey was born in 1805 in Canterbury and was trained as a chorister at the Cathedral under Highmore Skeats. In 1830 he became organist at New College Oxford and then at St Mary's University Church and St John's College. He composed a few, yet significant, pieces of sacred music including Evening Service in Continuation of Croft's Morning Service in A (1825) and The Psalter, or Canticles and Psalms of David (Parker and Co, Oxford, 1856). He died in 1860.

Stephen Elvey's younger brother, George, was born in 1816 in Canterbury. Also an organist George attended the Royal Academy and graduated from New College Oxford in 1838 when he was appointed organist to St George's Chapel. George Elvey composed church music as well as teaching several members of the Royal family. He was knighted in 1871 and died in 1893.