Active as organist in Halifax (Yorkshire) in 1819-1834 (and some years before as assistant).
Known for his revised and enlarged edition (1832) of Chetham's A Book of Psalmody.
Death date uncertain: the 3rd edition of the revised Book of Psalmody (1836) reads "by J. Houldsworth, late organist of the parish church Halifax", indicating that by 1836 he is either deceased, or just no longer the organist. The preface of Frobisher's Supplement to Houldsworth's Revision (2nd ed. 1855) [1] reads "the late Mr. Houldsworth".
