The follwing entry was taken from the Dictionary of National Biography, found on Ancestry.com:

Viner, William Letton (1790–1867), organist and composer, was born at Bath on 14 May 1790. He studied under Charles Wesley (1757–1834), and in 1820 became organist of St Michael's, Bath. While at Bath he wrote an overture for Rob Roy, which though very popular and constantly performed at the theatre there, was never published. He became better known for the religious music that he later published. In December 1835, on the recommendation of Samuel Sebastian Wesley, he was appointed organist of St Mary's Chapelry, Penzance, where he remained until he went to America in 1859.

Viner was a prolific composer of church music, organ music, and songs, and was the author of the hymn tune ‘Helston' or ‘Kingston', sometimes described as an ancient Cornish melody. He edited One Hundred Psalm and Hymn Tunes in Score (1838), A Useful Selection from the most Approved Psalms (1846), and The Chanter's Companion (1857). He was also an excellent teacher of the organ, harp, and piano. He died at Westfield, Massachusetts, on 24 July 1867.


He was the son of Charles and Elizabeth Barber Viner.

The follwing entry was taken from the Dictionary of National Biography, found on Ancestry.com:

Viner, William Letton (1790–1867), organist and composer, was born at Bath on 14 May 1790. He studied under Charles Wesley (1757–1834), and in 1820 became organist of St Michael's, Bath. While at Bath he wrote an overture for Rob Roy, which though very popular and constantly performed at the theatre there, was never published. He became better known for the religious music that he later published. In December 1835, on the recommendation of Samuel Sebastian Wesley, he was appointed organist of St Mary's Chapelry, Penzance, where he remained until he went to America in 1859.

Viner was a prolific composer of church music, organ music, and songs, and was the author of the hymn tune ‘Helston' or ‘Kingston', sometimes described as an ancient Cornish melody. He edited One Hundred Psalm and Hymn Tunes in Score (1838), A Useful Selection from the most Approved Psalms (1846), and The Chanter's Companion (1857). He was also an excellent teacher of the organ, harp, and piano. He died at Westfield, Massachusetts, on 24 July 1867.


He was the son of Charles and Elizabeth Barber Viner.