A leading British organist, pedagogue and composer of his generation, John Stainer assumed the organist and chorister position at St. Paul's in London. In addition to his popular oratorio, Stainer wrote more than 200 services for St. Paul's cathedral, oratorios, anthems, hymns and cantatas. Stainer established the Oxford Philharmonic Society. In 1888, Stainer was knighted by Queen Victoria.