Hubert Parry Blue Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, a renowned English composer, teacher and historian of music, lived at 17 Kensington Square in London’s Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Born in 1848, Parry made significant contributions to the British musical renaissance of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Parry composed an extensive body of work, including five symphonies, choral pieces, chamber music and songs. He is perhaps best known for his setting of William Blake’s poem “And did those feet in ancient time”, popularly known as “Jerusalem”, which has become an unofficial anthem for England. Parry also composed the coronation anthem “I was glad” for King Edward VII in 1902, which was later used at the coronations of George V and Elizabeth II.

In addition to his compositional work, Parry was an influential teacher, holding positions as Professor of Composition and Musical History at the Royal College of Music and as Professor of Music at the University of Oxford. He played a crucial role in shaping the education of the next generation of British composers. Parry was created a Knight Bachelor in 1898 and a baronet in 1903 for his contributions to music. He died in 1918, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape British musical tradition. The blue plaque at his former Kensington residence, erected in 1949, serves as a tribute to his life and work in the heart of London.