Christopher Swain was born, sang as a boy chorister and began learning piano and organ in Coventry. He became an Associate of the Royal College of Organists at the age of 16, and subsequently a Fellow. He was awarded an Organ Scholarship to Worcester College, Oxford, and remained after graduation to do research and teach. He was, for a number of years, Director of Music and Organist at Manchester College (now Harris Manchester College, Oxford).

After a further year’s study at Selwyn College, Cambridge, Christopher became a school master. He was Director of Music at Colston’s School in Bristol from 1975 until 1983 and at Wycliffe College in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire from 1983 until 2008. Here, as well as teaching A level and GCSE music, he conducted the Choir, Orchestra and String Group, and organised concert tours to France, Spain, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy and the USA.

He founded Wycliffe Choral Society for parents, staff and friends of the College in 1983. He has been Organist and Choirmaster at St Mary’s Church, Painswick since April 2003, is an examiner for the Royal School of Church Music and is frequently invited to serve as an adjudicator.