Booth, Josiah

Composer

b Coventry, Warwicks 1852, d Hornsey, N London (Middx) 1929. Having trained in music he became organist of the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Banbury, Oxon. After further study at the RAM he was appointed to a similar post at the Park Chapel (Congregational), Crouch End, N London, where he served from 1877 until 1918 (to be succeeded by E Thiman qv). He filled a significant musical role in the compiling of the 1887 Congregational Church Hymnal and its successor in 1916, the Congregational Hymnary, and in 1909 he published A Selection of One Hundred Tunes Composed by Josiah Booth. 8 of his items remained in Congregational Praise (1951) and 3 in Rejoice and Sing (1991). He is also represented in The Companion Tune Book. No.881.