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The same year saw the publication of Stanley’s first set of Cantatas. They must have proved successful as they were reissued several times by the publisher John Walsh. Stanley’s Six Concertos in Seven Parts were first published in 1742. She was Stanley’s ‘eyes’ to other composers’ works and she wrote down every note of Stanley’s own compositions. Ann’s role in Stanley’s life and his achievements is often overlooked. Sarah’s sister Ann, who lived with them, became the blind composer’s amanuensis. Stanley is incorrectly referred to as doctor and Sarah Arlond’s name is incorrectly stated as Arnold. This is how the marriage was announced in The Weekly Miscellany dated 28 July 1738: It is not known for certain why they married in secret. The services were performed by priests who were serving prison sentences. This was quite a common practice for those wishing to wed away from family and public eye. They married in secret at the Fleet Prison. In 1738 Stanley married Sarah Arlond (daughter of Captain Edward Arlond of the East India Company) who brought him a dowry of £7,000.

They became good friends and Stanley was made godfather to Alcock’s grandson who was named as John Stanley Alcock. John Alcock (1715-1806) was apprenticed to Stanley who thus became responsible for Alcock’s education and musicianship. Stanley was also an outstanding violinist and led the subscription concerts at the Swan Tavern in Cornhill and at the Castle Tavern in Paternoster Row. It was at the ancient Temple Church that his brilliant playing upon the organ and harpsichord attracted the attention of many fine musicians including Handel who regularly visited the church to hear him. In 1734 he was appointed organist to the Society of the Inner Temple – a position he held until his death. The antiquary and diarist Thomas Hearne (1678-1735), writing in his Remarks and Collections about Stanley’s visit to Oxford in 1725, said that Stanley should be, “look’d upon as the best Organist in Europe, it may be, in the World”. Andrew’s, Holborn and at the age of seventeen became the youngest person ever to obtain the BMus degree at Oxford University. James’s Evening Post reporting the event stated that Stanley “is become the Surprize of the Town for his ingenious Performance on the Harpsichord and Organ and, in the opinion of good Judges, bids fair to equal, if not exceed the Merit of his celebrated Predecessor.”Īt the age of fourteen “in preference to a great number of candidates” (Burney) he was chosen as organist at St. Babell died on 23rd September 1723 and exactly one month later the Flying-Post of October 24-6 reported that “by a considerable Majority” of the 66 electors present the eleven year old Stanley was appointed organist to the church at a salary of £20 per annum. The organist at All Hallows at that time was the composer and harpsichordist William Babell, a former pupil of Handel. In fact, so outstandingly well did the young Stanley advance that at the age of nine he played the organ (probably as an occasional deputy) at All Hallows, Bread Street. Paul’s Cathedral – he studied “with great diligence, and a success that was astonishing” (Burney). However, under the guidance of Maurice Greene – composer and organist at St. John Stanley – engraving by Mary Ann Scott of a painting by Thomas GainsboroughĪt the age of seven he began studying music with the organist John Reading but the teacher/student partnership was not fruitful.