Richard Howard (priest)

Richard Thomas Howard (12 June 1884[1] – 1 November 1981[2]) was an Anglican priest and author.[3] During the Coventry blitz on 14–15 November 1940 he went on the roof to try save the cathedral but when many incendiary bombs descended he had no choice but to rescue some important artefacts and then retreat to his Anderson shelter. He is particularly remembered for advocating forgiveness and reconciliation, having 'Father Forgive' inscribed in the ruined chancel of the cathedral (rather than 'Father Forgive them', the words of Jesus on the Cross) to remind us that we all need forgiveness, not just those who have harmed us, and for his determination to rebuild a Cathedral which would speak of Christ's resurrection, as the old one mirrored his Crucifixion. With the City Council he led the way in town twinning, beginning with Kiel, which had been similarly bombed.

Provost Howard (left) with Winston Churchill in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral, 28 September 1941

Howard was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge. He was ordained in 1908[4] and began his ministry as chaplain of his former Cambridge college. In 1912 he went to St. John's College, Agra for the Church Missionary Society (CMS). From 1913 to 1918 he was Vice-Principal of St Paul's Divinity School, Allahabad and from then until 1929 was the Principal of St Aidan's College, Birkenhead. After four years as Vicar of Luton he became Provost of Coventry Cathedral,[5] a position he held for 25 years. From 1941 to 1946 he was also Archdeacon of Coventry.

References

Who was Who 1897–1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 978-0-7136-3457-0
"The Very Rev R. T. Howard", The Times, 4 November 1981, p. 12
Among other books he wrote “Ruined and Rebuilt: the story of Coventry Cathedral”, 1962, and “Behold Your God”, 1969, British Library website. This book was read by many.
”The Clergy List” London, Kelly’s, 1913
The Times, 6 January 1933, p. 15.

Church of England titles
Preceded by Cyril Evelyn Morton	Provost of Coventry Cathedral 1933–1958	Succeeded by Harold Claude Noel Williams
Preceded by Richard Brook	Archdeacon of Coventry 1941–1946	Succeeded by Leonard Stanford

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[1] Who was Who 1897–1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 978-0-7136-3457-0

[2] "The Very Rev R. T. Howard", The Times, 4 November 1981, p. 12

[3] Among other books he wrote “Ruined and Rebuilt: the story of Coventry Cathedral”, 1962, and “Behold Your God”, 1969, British Library website. This book was read by many.

[4] ”The Clergy List” London, Kelly’s, 1913

[5] The Times, 6 January 1933, p. 15.

Provosts and Deans of Coventry
Provosts	Cyril Morton Richard Howard Harold Williams Colin Semper John Petty
Deans	John Petty Stuart Beake John Irvine Tim Pullen John Witcombe

Archdeacons of Coventry and Archdeacons Pastor
High Medieval	Richard Peche Edmund Nicholas Richard Brito (I) Richard de Leghes Robert de Bosco Richard of Gloucester Alexander of Hales Adam de Hoo Lawrence of St Martin William of Kilkenny John Kirkby Richard Brito (II) Robert Stafford Peter de Insula
Late Medieval	Gregory Giudice de Alatri Richard Riccardi de Urbe John Cardinal Gaetani de Urbe Humphrey de Hastanges Hugh de Marisco William de Sallowe William Cross Richard Boule William de Driffield John de Pipe Richard de Birmingham William Lombe Robert de Stretton Robert de Oxton John Heyworth Robert Esple Roger Wall Thomas Mills
Early modern	George Strangeways Ralph Colyngwood John Blythe Henry Comberford Thomas Lever William James William Hinton Samuel Brooke Ralph Brownrigg Francis Walsall John Riland George Downing Lancelot Addison Richard Davies William Wilson Thomas Smallbrook Norman Fotheringham
Late modern	William Vyse Charles Buckeridge William Spooner John Sandford Charles Holbech William Bree George Arbuthnot Claude Blagden Joseph Hunkin Richard Brook Richard Howard Leonard Stanford Eric Buchan Peter Bridges Alan Morgan Ian Russell Mark Bryant Ian Watson John Green (Acting) John Green, "Archdeacon Pastor" Clive Hogger (Acting) Sue Field, "Archdeacon Pastor"