COWIE, WILLIAM GARDEN (1831-1902) was born in London, the son of Alexander Cowie, of Auchterless, Aberdeenshire. Educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, he graduated B.A. in 1855, was a scholar of his College and was in the first class of the civil law tripos and the theological examination.

After holding curacies in Cambridge and Suffolk, he was appointed in 1857 chaplain to Sir Colin Campbell's army advancing to the siege of Lucknow. He crossed the Gumti with Outram's column, with which he remained until Lucknow fell, when he accompanied Sir Hope Grant's flying column, which defeated the enemy at Kursi. In 1858 he was present at the assault at Ruyah, the battle of Aligun and the capture of Bareilly. In 1863 he was chaplain to the Viceroy's camp, and after Lord Elgin's death he served with Sir Neville Chamberlain's column in Afghanistan. During the next three years he was resident and examining chaplain to Bishop Cotton of Calcutta, the metropolitan of India.

In 1867 he was presented to the rectory of St Mary's, Stafford, and on 29 Jun 1869 he was consecrated Bishop of Auckland by Archbishop Tait and others (including Selwyn, who had been entrusted with the task of selecting his own successor). Having married Eliza, daughter of Dr W. Webber (Moulton, Suffolk) he sailed for New Zealand, arriving early in 1870. During the 32 years of his episcopate the number of churches in the Auckland diocese increased from 28 to 85. Bishop Cowie visited every corner of the district and opened many churches in new settlements. He was practically the founder of the Sailors' Home, which was endowed by a large bequest made out of respect to Cowie himself (1883). The Institute for the Blind received much of his attention from 1889 and he crowned the work of Lady Martin when he opened the Women's Home in Auckland. He was a member of the New Zealand University senate from 1879 and of the Auckland University College council from 1883. In 1888 and 1897 Cowie attended the Lambeth conference. In 1895 he was elected by the general synod to be primate of New Zealand.

His publications include Notes on the Temples of Cashmere, A Visit to Norfolk Island and Our Last Year in New Zealand (1888). He died on 26 Jun 1902 and his widow on 18 Aug.

Cowie, op. cit.; Proc. of General Synod of N.Z. and Auckland Diocesan Synod, 1870-1902; Jacobs; Morton; N.Z. Herald, 30 Jun 1882, 27 Jun 1902

Reference: Volume 1, page 106

🌳 Further sources