Augusta Amherst Austen (2 August 1827 – 5 August 1877) was a British

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational h ...

and composer, chiefly of

hymns A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' ...

. Austen was born in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

, and studied at the Royal Academy of Music. She was a church organist for most of her active career, from 1844 to 1848 at Ealing Church, and from 1848 to 1857 at

Paddington Paddington is an area within the City of Westminster, in Central London. First a medieval parish then a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965. Three important landmarks of the district are Padd ...

Chapel. She composed various hymns, of which one, "St. Agnes", was published in

Charles Steggall Charles H. Steggall (3 June 1826 in London – 7 June 1905 in London) was an English hymnodist and composer. Early life The son of R. W. Steggall (of the London-based harness and saddlery maker Whippy, Steggall and Fleming), Charles Steggal ...

's ''Church Psalmody'' (1849). She married Thomas Anstey Guthrie shortly after leaving Paddington Chapel. One of her sons, also named

Thomas Anstey Guthrie Thomas Anstey Guthrie (8 August 1856 – 10 March 1934) was an English author (writing as F. Anstey), most noted for his comic novel '' Vice Versa'' about a boarding-school boy and his father exchanging identities. His reputation was confirmed ...

, became a well-known novelist. She died in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

References

* * 1827 births 1877 deaths 19th-century English musicians 19th-century British women musicians 19th-century British women writers English organists English composers British women composers English hymnwriters Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music Women organists British women hymnwriters 19th-century organists {{England-writer-stub

See also

References