William was the son John Boyce, a cabinet maker, and his wife Elizabeth. They had moved to Maiden Lane in the first half of 1711 shortly before William's birth.

In February 1722 William Boyce's father was appointed Beadle to the Joiners' Company. The post carried with it accommodation for the Beadle's family in the Joiners' Hall. At the age of twelve William began his musical education when he became a chorister of St. Paul's Cathedral under the musical direction of Charles King. When William's voice broke he was accepted as a pupil to the composer Maurice Greene who was the Cathedral organist.

At the age of 24 Boyce took up his first musical post as organist at Oxford Chapel, Vere Street, Cavendish Square, London. He was taught at this time by the German born composer John Pepusch who gave him his great love for church music of the past. Boyce taught the harpsichord at various nearby schools. About this time his hearing became gradually impaired. A tragedy that did not lessen his love for his musical studies.

On 1736 he became composer to the Chapel Royal. In this post he composed some of his greatest anthems and church music. This was also the year in which Boyce composed the oratorio, David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan with words written by his friend John Lockman.

In 1739 Boyce composed his Ode for St. Cecilia's Day to a text by his friend, the amateur poet John Lockman. In writing this Ode Boyce followed in the footsteps of his two chief teachers, Greene and Pepusch who also wrote music in St. Cecelia's honour.

1747 saw the only publication of any of his chamber music. This was his sonatas for two violins with 'cello or harpsichord. It confirmed his position as one of the leaders of English musical life.

In the summer of 1748 he married a lady named Hannah - her surname remains unknown. They started their married life in a house in Quality Court, Chancery Lane. Hannah presented her husband with a daughter (born 29th April 1749) and a son, William, fifteen years later. Their son went on to become famous in the music world as a double-bass player in the London orchestras.

In 1749 a new organ was installed in the church of Allhallows the Great and Less in Thames Street. Boyce was chosen as organist. In the same year he wrote the music for an ode written by William Mason for the installation of the Duke of Newcastle as chancellor of the University of Cambridge.

Boyce died at the age of 67 on 7th February, 1779 (of gout according to John Hawkins) and was buried under the centre of the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral on the morning of Tuesday 16th February. The combined choirs of St. Paul's, Westminster Abbey and the Chapel Royal sung at his funeral service, which included his anthem 'If we believe that Jesus died'.

In the arrangements drawn up for the service it states that, "After the morning service is ended, the Corpse is to be carried down to the vault during which time Mr. Jones will perform with the organ a solemn March composed by Dr. Boyce". This was the March from his Fourth Trio Sonata and was played by John Jones (1728-1796) the Cathedral organist.

In the year following his death his wife published her husband's 'Fifteen Anthems and a Te Deum and Jubilate' and in 1790 published a second volume.