Anthony Cæsar (CVO) was a boy chorister in the Winchester Cathedral Choir under Harold Rhodes, who directed choir rehearsals in the short street known as “Dome Alley”, the title later on of one of Caesar’s hymn tunes. He studied music at Magdalene College, Cambridge where he was a music scholar and trained for the Anglican priesthood at St Stephen’s House, Oxford. From 3 August 1979 to 1 August 1991, he was Subdean of the Chapels Royal (having previously been Canon Precentor and Vice-Dean of Winchester Cathedral). During this period, he was also the music editor of the New English Hymnal.

In 1991, on retirement, he was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, having been appointed LVO in 1987. Following his retirement from the Chapel Royal, he was appointed an Extra Chaplain to the Royal Household.

He is best known for his short Mass setting, Missa Brevis Capella Regalis, and his setting of Digby Mackworth Dolben’s poem Requests, as well as his O For a Closer walk with God. Anthony Cæsar died in July 2018 at the age of 94.