THE MUSICAL KELWAY BROTHERS OF CHICHESTER
Brothers Thomas and Joseph Kelway were famous musicians of their time in Chichester, Sussex.
Thomas was a choristor in Chichester Cathedral when he was a boy; later he became organist. Some of his music is still in use in the English Church.
Joseph (not shown in the registers below) was also an organist, and he published harpsichord sonatas. He knew Handel, who admired his work.
From the register quotations below, it seems that their father was active in the music of Chichester as well.
[See The Oxford Companion to Music]
CHICHESTER REGISTERS
Baptisms:
14 Apr 1729 Ann Kelway, dau of William and Ann*
20 Sep 1732 Jane Kelway, dau of William and Ann*
9 Jul 1835 Joseph Kelway, son of William and Ann*
22 Feb 1737(8) Isabella Kelway, dau of William and Ann
4 Feb 1739(40) William Kelway, son of William and Ann
19 May 1742  Charles Kelway, son of William and Ann

Marriages:
20 Oct 1694 Mr Thomas Kelway, Vicar choral, and Mrs Ann Crossfield
 14 Feb 1725(6)  Thomas Kelway, clerk, Vicar choral and Sarah Slaterford, wid
of this parish.

 Burials:
20 May 1724 Mrs Ann Kelway
20 Apr 1735 Hester Kelway
28 Feb 1762 Isabella Kelway
20 Mar 1728 John Kelway
21 Dec 1733 John Kelway
30 Aug 1736 Mr Thomas Kelway, Vicar choral*
23 May 1744 Thomas Kelway, organist
15 Feb 1739(40) William Kelway, infant
7 Jan 1743(4) Mrs Kelway, widow

N.B. Those marked * were from the register of the Close Parish Church. The others were from the Chichester Subdeanery registers. All copied from typescript copies.
 

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An image of houses at The Close, Chich Cathedral
Houses within The Close at Chichester Cathedral, Sussex.  Did the Kelway family live in one of them?
 Thomas Kelway's Memorial
The Gate at Chichester Close
Above: Thomas Kelway's memorial stone set in the floor of a chapel at Chichester Cathedral. It reads:
IN MEMORY
OF THO: KELWAY
ORGANIST of this
CATHEDRAL  23 Years.
Died May ye 21st  1749
My hope is in my Saviour
Jesus Christ.





The young Thomas offended the gatekeeper of the Close (see left) by frequently returning late from the tavern.