Early life

He was born in Lincoln on 29 February 1820, the son of a lay vicar of Lincoln Cathedral

Lincoln Cathedral

Lincoln Cathedral is a historic Anglican cathedral in Lincoln in England and seat of the Bishop of Lincoln in the Church of England. It was reputedly the tallest building in the world for 249 years . The central spire collapsed in 1549 and was not rebuilt...

, who moved to Durham Cathedral

Durham Cathedral

The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is a cathedral in the city of Durham, England, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. The Bishopric dates from 995, with the present cathedral being founded in AD 1093...

 in 1822, where James became a chorister in 1827.

Career

In February 1834 he was articled to Richard Ingham, organist of Carlisle Cathedral

Carlisle Cathedral

The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, otherwise called Carlisle Cathedral, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Carlisle. It is located in Carlisle, in Cumbria, North West England...

; in June 1836 was appointed organist of St. Andrew's, Newcastle ; and in June 1841, on Ingham's death, was made organist of Carlisle.

In February 1842 he was chosen organist at Birmingham Town Hall

Birmingham Town Hall

Birmingham Town Hall is a Grade I listed concert and meeting venue in Victoria Square, Birmingham, England. It was created as a home for the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival established in 1784, the purpose of which was to raise funds for the General Hospital, after St Philip's Church became...

 and St Paul's Church, Birmingham

St Paul's Church, Birmingham

St Paul’s, , is a church in the Georgian St Paul's Square in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, England.The Grade I listed church was designed by Roger Eykyn of Wolverhampton. Building started in 1777, and the church was consecrated in 1779. It was built on land given by Charles Colmore from his...

, and in the following year founded the Festival Choral Society. He continued with the Society until 1855.

In 1844 he was instrumental in starting the weekly Monday Evening Concerts.

He was organist of St Martin in the Bull Ring

St Martin in the Bull Ring

The church of St Martin in the Bull Ring in Birmingham 5, England is a parish church in the Church of England.-Background:It is the original parish church of Birmingham. It stands between the Bull Ring shopping centre and the markets. The church is a Grade II* listed building. The current Rector...

Birmingham from 1852 to 1857.