Louis James Alfred Lefebure-Wely was born in Paris on November 13, 1817. His father, Isaac-François, was a talented organist who was the boy's first teacher. Young Louis caught on quickly and began serving as a substitute organist for his father at Saint-Roch in Paris from the age of 11, the time when his father had suffered a stroke. In 1833 young Louis was appointed to replace his father at Saint-Roch.
Lefebure-Wely enrolled at the Paris Conservatoire around this time to study organ with François Benoist and composition with Jacques-François Halevy and Henri-Montan Berton. At 17 Lefebure-Wely won first prize in organ performance at the Conservatory.
From 1847-1858 Lefebure-Wely served as organist at L'Église de la Madeleine in Paris. He produced many compositions during his decade there, including the Six Offertories and Six Grande Offertories (Opp. 34 & 35, respectively), circa 1857. In 1863 Lefebure-Wely was appointed organist at Saint-Sulpice, also in Paris. He held the post until his death on December 31, 1869. Among his more important later works are Hommage à Mr. l'Abbé Hamon, Curé de St. Sulpice (1867-1869).