James Turle

James Turle was born at Taunton, Somerset, in 1802. He was a chorister at Wells Cathedral from 1810 to 1813 and later studied in London, where his training included work with John Jeremiah Goss and George Ebenezer Williams. Before his Westminster appointment, Turle served as organist at Christ Church, Southwark, and St James's, Bermondsey.

His association with Westminster Abbey began while he was still young. In 1831 he succeeded Thomas Greatorex as Organist and Master of the Choristers, holding the office until his death in 1882, although a permanent deputy assumed the active duties from 1875. Turle played at the 1834 Handel Festival in the Abbey and composed services, anthems, Anglican chants, and hymn tunes. With Edward Taylor he edited The People's Music Book in 1844 and Psalms and Hymns for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge in 1862.

Turle composed ST. JOHN'S, WESTMINSTER, the Common Meter tune represented in this record and generally dated to 1862. It was not composed for Montgomery's 1825 text. Their pairing is documented in The Church Hymnal of 1894 and in later Methodist and A.M.E. Zion hymnals. Both the tune and Montgomery's text are public domain.