William Henry Havergal (1793-1870), a composer of sacred music, was educated at Merchant Taylors School and St Edmund Hall, Oxford. He was rector of Astley, Worcestershire in 1829, St Nicholas, Worcester in 1845 and vicar of Shareshill in 1860. In 1836 he was awarded the Gresham prize for Evening Service in A, and in 1841 for the anthem Give Thanks . He composed A Hundred Psalm and Hymn Tunes, (1859), published Old Church Psalmody, (1847) and other works. His daughter, Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879) was a writer of religious verse and published Ministry of Song, (1870) and other hymns and poems, Poetical Works,(1884) and her autobiography. Both William and Frances were active supporters of the Church Missionary Society (CMS).
Reference: Concise Dictionary of National Biography ; Church Missionary Gleaner (January 1887).
From the guide to the Papers of the Havergal family, 1816-1886, (University of Birmingham Information Services, Special Collections Department)
