William Bennett Ninnis

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Life

Born: c1833

Died: 15 May 1902

Biography

William Bennett Ninnis was a Cornish composer of Christmas carol tunes. Four works attributed to him appear in R. H. Heath's two volumes of Cornish Carols. In the first of these books, Part I (1889), there is one carol, While shepherds watched their flocks by night, attributed 'W. B. Niness Helston.'. In the second, Part II [c1891], there are three carols, Hark, what mean those heavenly voices, Sound, sound your instruments of joy, and Joy to the world, the Lord is come, each attributed 'W. B. Ninnis.'.

The following obituary appeared on p6 of The Cornish Telegraph on Wednesday 21 May 1902:

DEATH OF MR. W. B. NINNIS, OF HELSTON. Mr. William B. Ninnis, an old and well-known Helstonian, passed away at his residence, Lizard Road, Helston, on Thursday morning, at the age of sixty-nine years, leaving three sons and five daughters to mourn his loss. Two of the sons are in the ministry; the Rev. John Ninnis (Bible Christian Methodist Church) and the Rev. James Ninnis, a rising preacher in the Free Methodist body). Mr. Ninnis had been in failing health some time. For a great number of years he was the senior Helston postman, and had only recently retired. He was a member and local preacher of the Helston Free Methodist Circuit and a man of considerable ability and wide reading. He also acted for many years as the correspondent of the "Cornish Telegraph." Deceased was a Freemason, being a member of the Plymouth St. John's Lodge. He also took considerable interest in the friendly societies, and was secretary for many years. He had great musical ability, and composed several Christmas carol and hymn tunes. He was a consistent Liberal.

List of choral works


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Publications

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