Identity:

Henry George Bonavia-Hunt was a journalist, organist and priest. He was the son of William Hunt, former private secretary to the Bishop of Jerusalem, and his wife, Marietta Bonavia, daughter of a Maltese doctor.

Life:

Although he chose journalism as a career - his posts included the editorships of the Quiver (1865-1905) and Cassell's Magazine (1874-96) - Hunt had a strong vocation for music. A stint as choirmaster of south Hackney parish church (1872-5) led to his founding the College of Church Music to train church musicians. From 1872-6, he studied music at Christ Church, Oxford. His long involvement with church music also led to his ordination as priest in 1878. In 1875, the College of Church Music was incorporated under special licence as Trinity College of Music, London and it is for this that Hunt is best remembered.

Bibliography:

Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford, 2004, on-line edition (accessed 2 June 2004).