John Jebb (canon)
Encyclopedia
John Jebb D.D. was an Anglo-Irish Anglican clergyman and writer on church music.
He was the eldest son of Justice Richard Jebb and nephew of Dr John Jebb, Bishop of Limerick. He was educated at Winchester
and Trinity College, Dublin
. After graduating MA in 1829, Jebb briefly held the rectory of Dunerlin in Ireland before becoming prebendary
in Limerick Cathedral (1832), rector of Peterstow
, Herefordshire (1843), prebendary in Hereford Cathedral
(1858), and canon residentiary there (1870).
He married Frances, daughter of General Sir Richard Bourke
, in September 1831 (she died 1866).
Jebb was a leading authority on the choral service of the Anglican Church and a significant figure in the English choral revival. When Dr Walter Hook, vicar of Leeds, proposed to reinstate choral services and a surpliced choir at Leeds Parish Church
in 1841, it was to his friend Jebb that he looked for advice. With his cathedral background Jebb argued that in churches with a choir, the desired musical effect should not be marred by "the roar of the congregation". He persuaded Hook to adopt the cathedral form of service at Leeds rather than the alternative model demonstrated by the Rev. Frederick Oakeley
at Margaret Chapel, London in 1839, where the choir’s role was to lead the congregation in response, hymn and psalm.
His policy was first made public in Three Lectures on the Cathedral Service (1841). A more scholarly and definitive treatment of the topic was published in his The Choral Service of the United Church of England and Ireland (1843) which was an enquiry in the low state of service and music provision in cathedrals and collegiate churches.
The Rev Jebb funded the building costs of the new rectory at Peterstow. St Peter's Church at Peterstow was restored in the 1860s under Dr Jebb with Sir George Gilbert Scott as architect. The re-opening was on 2 July 1866.
He was the eldest son of Justice Richard Jebb and nephew of Dr John Jebb, Bishop of Limerick. He was educated at Winchester
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. After graduating MA in 1829, Jebb briefly held the rectory of Dunerlin in Ireland before becoming prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
in Limerick Cathedral (1832), rector of Peterstow
Peterstow
Peterstow is a village and Civil parish in Herefordshire, England situated about west of Ross-on-Wye on the A49.-General description of the village:...
, Herefordshire (1843), prebendary in Hereford Cathedral
Hereford Cathedral
The current Hereford Cathedral, located at Hereford in England, dates from 1079. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a mediæval map of the world dating from the 13th century. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building.-Origins:...
(1858), and canon residentiary there (1870).
He married Frances, daughter of General Sir Richard Bourke
Richard Bourke
General Sir Richard Bourke, KCB was Governor of the Colony of New South Wales, Australia between 1831 and 1837.-Early life and career:...
, in September 1831 (she died 1866).
Jebb was a leading authority on the choral service of the Anglican Church and a significant figure in the English choral revival. When Dr Walter Hook, vicar of Leeds, proposed to reinstate choral services and a surpliced choir at Leeds Parish Church
Leeds Parish Church
Leeds Parish Church, or the Parish Church of Saint Peter-at-Leeds, in Leeds, West Yorkshire is a large Church of England parish church of major architectural and liturgical significance. It has been designated a grade I listed building by English Heritage...
in 1841, it was to his friend Jebb that he looked for advice. With his cathedral background Jebb argued that in churches with a choir, the desired musical effect should not be marred by "the roar of the congregation". He persuaded Hook to adopt the cathedral form of service at Leeds rather than the alternative model demonstrated by the Rev. Frederick Oakeley
Frederick Oakeley
Frederick Oakeley was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England the sixth son of Sir Charles Oakeley, second baronet, and educated at Christ Church, Oxford. He was ordained in 1828 and in 1845 converted from Church of England to Catholicism, whereupon he became Canon of Westminster in 1852....
at Margaret Chapel, London in 1839, where the choir’s role was to lead the congregation in response, hymn and psalm.
His policy was first made public in Three Lectures on the Cathedral Service (1841). A more scholarly and definitive treatment of the topic was published in his The Choral Service of the United Church of England and Ireland (1843) which was an enquiry in the low state of service and music provision in cathedrals and collegiate churches.
The Rev Jebb funded the building costs of the new rectory at Peterstow. St Peter's Church at Peterstow was restored in the 1860s under Dr Jebb with Sir George Gilbert Scott as architect. The re-opening was on 2 July 1866.
Writings
- Three Lectures on the Cathedral Service of the Church of England (Leeds, 1841)
- The Choral Service of the United Church of England and Ireland, being an Inquiry into the Liturgical System of the Cathedral and Collegiate Foundations of the Anglican Communion (London, 1843)
- The Choral Responses and Litanies of the United Church of England and Ireland (London, 1847)