A keen musician, he was almost entirely self-taught except for receiving a few months of private tuition when he was eighteen.  A committed Methodist he became organist at Chili Road Chapel and at Illogan Highway Chapel.  He became famous for his anthology of twelve Christmas Carols of which the two most famous are ‘Hark the Angels Sing!’ and ‘Angels from the Realms of Glory’.
Merritt also wrote ‘The Christian Soldier’ and ‘Hark, The Glad Sound!’ and was commissioned to compose a Coronation march for Edward VII but of which little is known.

His composing style has been described as in the ‘West Gallery style’ which derives from the fact that many churches and chapels had a musicians’ gallery in the west of the Church.  Most Churches have altars pointing eastwards to Jerusalem and the musicians’ gallery was usually at the opposite end, often accessed through the tower.  Sadly, musicians’ galleries have been removed from many churches but the walls often exhibit marks showing where they existed.

Merritt became a full time music teacher at the age of nineteen but, plagued by ill health for most of his life, he died, aged forty-six, on April 17^th, 1908.