Henry McGowan (1891 – 8 September 1948) was an Anglican

bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is c ...

in the first half of the 20th century. He was born in 1891, educated at

Bristol Grammar School Bristol Grammar School (BGS) is a 4–18 mixed, independent day school in Bristol, England. It was founded in 1532 by Royal Charter for the teaching of 'good manners and literature', endowed by wealthy Bristol merchants Robert and Nicholas Thorn ...

and St Catharine's College, Cambridge and

ordained Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform ...

in 1914. After a period as a curate in Cheltenham he was a chaplain to the British Armed Forces during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. 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'. He then served another curacy at St Michael's, Bournemouth. He was then

vicar A vicar (; Latin: '' vicarius'') is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior (compare "vicarious" in the sense of "at second hand"). Linguistically, ''vicar'' is cognate with the English pre ...

at St Mark, Birmingham and Emmanuel, Southport before becoming

rural dean In the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion as well as some Lutheran denominations, a rural dean is a member of clergy who presides over a "rural deanery" (often referred to as a deanery); "ruridecanal" is the corresponding adjective ...

and then, in 1938,

Archdeacon of Aston The Archdeacon of Aston is a senior ecclesiastical officer within the Diocese of Birmingham. The Archdeacon is responsible for the disciplinary supervision of the clergy within the archdeaconry's three deaneries: Aston and Sutton Coldfield, Cole ...

. In November 1945 he was appointed

Bishop of Wakefield The Bishop of Wakefield is an Episcopal polity, episcopal title which takes its name after the City status in the United Kingdom, city of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England. The title was first created for a Diocese, diocesan Anglican minist ...

and consecrated in February 1946. The file on his appointment to Wakefield describes McGowan as 'a thoroughly sound, sensible, practical, straightforward man' who 'really runs Birmingham'. Alan Webster, a future

Dean of St Paul's The dean of St Paul's is a member of, and chair of the Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral in London in the Church of England. The dean of St Paul's is also ''ex officio'' dean of the Order of the British Empire. The current dean is Andrew Tremlett, ...

, 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'. He died in office on 8 September 1948. His son was later

headmaster A head master, head instructor, bureaucrat, headmistress, head, chancellor, principal or school director (sometimes another title is used) is the staff member of a school with the greatest responsibility for the management of the school. In som ...

at Haberdasher's Aske's.Times on-line
/ref> He had become a Doctor of Divinity (DD).

References

1891 births People educated at Bristol Grammar School Alumni of St Catharine's College, Cambridge Archdeacons of Aston Holders of a Lambeth degree Bishops of Wakefield (diocese) 1948 deaths World War I chaplains Royal Army Chaplains' Department officers 20th-century Church of England bishops {{Christianity-bio-stub