Anthony Caesar

Who is Anthony Caesar?

Anthony Douglass Caesar CVO FRCO born in 1924, is an English priest, organist and composer.

Caesar was a boy chorister in the Winchester Cathedral Choir under Harold Rhodes, who directed choir rehearsals in the short street known as "Dome Alley", the title later on of one of Caesar's hymn tunes. He studied music at Magdalene College, Cambridge and trained for the Anglican priesthood at St Stephen's House, Oxford. From 3 August 1979 to 1 August 1991 he was Subdean of the Chapels Royal. During this period was also the music editor of the New English Hymnal. In the 1991 Queen's Birthday Honours he was promoted to Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, having previously been a lieutenant of that order. Following his retirement from the Chapel Royal, he was appointed an Extra Chaplain to the Royal Household. He is best known for his short Mass setting, Missa Brevis Capella Regalis, and his "O For a Closer walk with God".