Augustus Edmonds Tozer

Augustus Tozer was born in Little Sutton,^[2] at the time a small village on the Wirral Peninsula, but now a suburb of the town of Ellesmere Port. He was sent to attend the City of London School in 1870 and, having shown a talent for music, went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music.

His particular skill was with the pipe organ and, having applied for membership of the Royal College of Organists was appointed as a Fellow at the exceptionally young age of 19. He subsequently attained his Licensiateship with the Royal Academy for his ability with the organ in 1882 and was awarded his Associateship of the Royal College of Music for his music theory and composition work in 1887.^[2] Following completion of a degree in music at Durham University, he undertook further studies at Oxford University until, in November 1895, he qualified for his Doctorate.

His first formal appointment was as organist and choirmaster was at St. Mary Magdalene, St. Leonards-on-Sea, then an Anglican church, and, for a period, also held the position of choirmaster at the newly built Holy Trinity, Hastings.^[2]

Whilst studying in London he converted to Roman Catholicism and took posts at several Catholic churches before settling on the south coast and becoming musical director for Church of the Sacred Heart, Hove, in 1888.^[3] He held this post until close to his death.