Henry McGowan

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).