Peter John Hurford was born in Minehead, Somerset, UK and studied briefly at the Royal College of Music in London before earning dual degrees in music and law at Jesus College, Cambridge, studying with Harold Darke; he later studied organ in Paris with André Marchal.

From 1958 until 1978, he was organist and choirmaster of St. Albans Cathedral Choir. In 1963, Hurford founded what became the St. Albans International Organ Festival, as a new Harrison & Harrison organ had been installed at the cathedral. In 1956, Hurford performed at Royal Festival Hall, which launched what would become an international performance career. A recording artist as well, he recorded more than fifty discs. He taught at Oxford and Cambridge universities and was an honorary fellow in organ studies at the University of Bristol. 

A prolific composer, his works were published by Oxford University Press and Novello. His book, Making Music on the Organ (Oxford University Press, 1998), was widely distributed.