William Henry Havergal, composer, was born to William Havergal and his wife Mary at Chipping Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, on 18 January 1793. On 25 June 1822 he became curate of Astley, Worcestershire. Havergal, Rector of Astley from 1820 to 1842, established an arboretum of more than 12 hectares (30 acres) on the lands attached to the Rectory.
Around 1829, Havergal began seriously to devote himself to music. He published a number of books and pamphlets on religious, moral, musical, and other subjects. One of his books was A History of the Old Hundredth Psalm Tune (1854). Reverend William Henry Havergal died on 19 April 1870.