Chinner was born in Brighton, South Australia, a son of George Williams Chinner and his wife Caroline Chinner née Bowen. George arrived in South Australia in November 1845 aboard Templar with his parents John and Anne Chinner, née Williams. George was one of the City of Brighton's original councillors, at one time part owner of The Advertiser, a partner in Chinner & Parkin which would become J. Marshall & Co. of Rundle Street, and a proficient musician. Chinner was educated at St. Peter's College where he had a successful career, winning the Short scholarship, but his great love was for music performance, in which he was capably tutored by his father, who though an amateur was sufficiently respected to be on the panel of judges which in 1859 selected Carl Linger's composition to accompany Caroline Carleton's Song of Australia. In 1869 he was appointed honorary organist and choirmaster to the Pirie StreetWesleyan Church. In November 1872 he left for Melbourne for study purposes, returning in 1873 to the Pirie Street church. He had a flourishing practice as a private tutor and in 1875 succeeded Carl Püttmann as music master at Prince Alfred College. For 30 years he served as choirmaster and organist to the Pirie Street church, which enjoyed a high reputation for its musical offerings. He was a prolific composer of works for choir and organ, many of which were published and acquired currency beyond the State and Commonwealth. He retired around 1905 and lived a secluded life in his Hutt Street home.
Compositions
Among Chinner's many compositions, several have been used regularly in church services: ;Anthems
Sir John Stainer, who had a strong influence on Chinner's music, praised Chinner's compositions.
Family
Chinner married Emma Morcom Cotton in 1875. He married again, to Annie Elizabeth Claridge on 21 April 1910. He had no children. Chinner had seven brothers:
George Frederick Chinner, poet who wrote libretti to many of Chinner's compositions.
George Williams Chinner married again in 1863 to Mary Edwards
John Henry Chinner Mayor of Unley 1909–1912, and a well known cartoonist with Quiz and other newspapers.
Charles Williams Chinner married Winnifred Maud Cowperthwaite on 20 April 1907
Robert Arthur Chinner generally known as Arthur Robert Chinner, married Harriet Grace Prior in 1920. Lived in Brighton.
Walter Edwards Chinner married Ethel Maude Bowen in 1895. He married again, in 1915, to Laura Edith Dickinson.
Hubert George Williams Chinner married Mary Ellen Grasby on 24 November 1896. He was well-known as a State cricketer.
Amos Francis "Moss" Chinner was a champion lawn bowls player
