Henry McGowan (1891 – 8 September 1948) was an Anglican bishop in the first half of the 20th century.[1]

He was born in 1891,[2] educated at Bristol Grammar School and St Catharine's College, Cambridge and ordained in 1914.

After a period as a curate in Cheltenham he was a chaplain to the British Armed Forces during World War I. He was appointed in July 1918 when he was only 27 and a bachelor. He could ride, speak French and preach extempore. He was sent to France in July 1918, as a chaplain to the 4th Division and to Italy 2 months later, and a report dated 5 February 1919 described him as 'satisfactory'.[3] He then served another curacy at St Michael's, Bournemouth.[4] He was then vicar at St Mark, Birmingham and Emmanuel, Southport[5] before becoming rural dean and then, in 1938, Archdeacon of Aston.[6] In November 1945 he was appointed Bishop of Wakefield[7] and consecrated in February 1946.[8] The file on his appointment to Wakefield describes McGowan as 'a thoroughly sound, sensible, practical, straightforward man' who 'really runs Birmingham'.[9] Alan Webster, a future Dean of St Paul's, remembered McGowan as 'an over-energetic parish priest... He was known for his industry; a deep strain of nervousness was leavened by a developed sense of humour and the gifts of a raconteur. Integrity, absence of malice and an integrated 'all of a piece' personality which were hallmarks of his ministry... Somehow... he whirlwinded his way from one idea to another making a strain on his heart'.[10]

He died in office on 8 September 1948.[11] His son was later headmaster at Haberdasher's Aske's.[12] He had become a Doctor of Divinity (DD).

References

  1. ↑ National Archives
  2. ↑ "Who was Who" 1897–2007 London, A & C Black, 2007 ISBN 978-0-19-954087-7
  3. ↑ Index Card Museum of Army Chaplaincy
  4. ↑ Church Web Site
  5. ↑ Bishops of Wakefield
  6. ↑ Crockford's Clerical Directory1940-41 Oxford, OUP, 1941
  7. ↑ The Times, Saturday, 3 November 1945; p. 6; Issue 50290; col D Ecclesiastical News New Bishop of Wakefield.
  8. ↑ The Times, Monday, 4 February 1946; p. 6; Issue 50367; col D Ecclesiastical News
  9. ↑ TNA PREM5/345
  10. ↑ University of Bradford Special Collections Peart-Binns Papers (Roger Wilson file)
  11. ↑ Obituary The Bishop of Wakefield The Times Friday, 10 September 1948; p. 4; Issue 51173; col E
  12. ↑ Times on-line


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