T. Frederick Candlyn

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Thomas Frederick Handel Candlyn (1892-1964) was an English-born organist, composer and choirmaster who spent most of his professional career at two Episcopal Church congregations in the United States.

Candlyn was born December 17, 1892 in Davenham, Cheshire, England. He received the Bachelor of Music degree from Durham University in 1911.

In 1915 he was offered the position of organist and choirmaster at St. Paul’s Church, Albany, New York by its rector Dr. Roelif H. Brooks and he emigrated to the United States. He was to remain at St. Paul’s for twenty-eight years, with the exception of the period between September 21, 1917 and April 25, 1919 when he served with the American Expeditionary Force. On June 25, 1918 Candlyn became a United States citizen at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.

During his years in Albany, Candlyn taught at the New York State College for Teachers, as Instructor from 1921 until his appointment as Assistant Professor starting with the 1935-1936 school year. He served for a time as chair of the music department and received an honorary Doctorate of Pedagogy (Pd.D.) from the College in June 1927. He founded the Albany Oratorio Society and conducted the Mendelssohn Club of Albany between 1939 and 1941.

In 1943, Dr. Brooks (who had left Albany in 1926) offered Candlyn the position of organist and choirmaster at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, New York. Candlyn worked at St. Thomas until his retirement in 1954.

T. Frederick H. Candlyn composed two hundred works, primarily anthems, cantatas, service settings and organ solos. Three of his anthems (“Christ, whose glory fills the skies,” “Thee We Adore,” and “King of Glory, King of Peace”) remain part of the standard repertoire of Episcopal church choirs in North America.

Candlyn married Dorothy Ridgeway. The couple had two children: Elizabeth Candlyn and Donald Shore Candlyn, who died heroically in the Battle of the Bulge at age nineteen. T. Frederick H. Candlyn died December 16, 1964 in Point Lookout, New York. He is buried with his wife and son in the Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, New York.

[edit] Prizes

Sesquicentennial Prize for “The Historical Suite”
The Audsley Memorial Medal of the National Association of Organists for “Sonata Dramatica” in 1926
Guild of Organists Prize for the cantata “The Light of the World”

[edit] Sources

“T.F.H. Candlyn, 72, Church Organist,” New York Times December 18, 1964
“Albany Organist Gets Position at St. Thomas”, New York Times August 6, 1943
“Church Organist Gets Son’s Medal”, New York Times November 12, 1945

Materials from the archives of the University at Albany: Minutes of the Board of Trustees for June 6, 1927; Executive Committee Minutes , Volume 4, 1924-1939, page 1180; New York State College for Teachers Annual Catalogue.