Sampson Estwick facts for kids

Sampson Estwick, also known as Eastwick, was an English musician who lived a long time ago. He was born around 1657 and passed away in 1739.

Early Life and Education

Sampson Estwick was born around 1657. From a young age, he was involved in music. He might have been one of the first children to sing in the Chapel Royal after the king returned to power in England (this event is called the Restoration). He also sang as a chorister at St. Paul's Cathedral. A chorister is a child who sings in a church choir.

Estwick went to Christ Church, Oxford, a famous university. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), in 1677. He then earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) in 1680, and later a Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) in 1692. These degrees show he was very well educated.

Music and Church Work

Sampson Estwick was good friends with Henry Aldrich, who was the head of Christ Church. Aldrich was known for his love of music and often held music practice sessions at his home. Estwick was always there, showing how much he loved music too.

Aldrich was very good at managing the choir at the cathedral. Estwick was a great example of how well this training worked. He was a talented and dedicated singer in the choir for many years, even when he was very old. He was also a very good reader, which means he could read music well.

Estwick became a Minor Prebend at St. Paul's Cathedral in 1692. This was a church position. Later, in 1698, he became a senior cardinal, which meant he helped supervise the choir. In 1699, he became the Sacrist, another important role in the church.

In 1701, Estwick became the vicar of St. Helen's, Bishopsgate, and in 1712, he became the rector of St. Michael's, Queenhithe. These are roles where he led churches. Even with these new jobs, he kept singing in the choir at St. Paul's Cathedral almost until he died. He was nearly 90 years old! He was described as a very old man, but he still had his mind and his deep singing voice. He would attend his duties at St. Paul's wearing his church clothes, looking very wise and respected.

Later Years and Legacy

Sampson Estwick passed away on February 16, 1739. People remembered him as a good and worthy clergyman. He was known for his strong faith and beliefs.

Estwick was also involved with the Academy of Vocal Musick, a group for singers. He attended their first meetings in 1725 and was one of the first people to donate money to the group.

He gave a sermon (a church speech) about "The Usefulness of Church Musick" in 1696. It was given on a special day for music lovers, St. Cecilia's Day. This sermon was published because people asked for it. In his sermon, Estwick worried that people were starting to ignore or stop using church music. He also published another sermon in 1698. Some of his handwritten music, including songs and other pieces, is still kept at the Music School and Christ Church Library in Oxford today.