Christian Howard
Encyclopedia
Dame Rosemary Christian Howard DBE
(5 September 1916 – 22 April 1999) was the daughter of Geoffrey Howard
and Ethel Christian Methuen. She was awarded the honorary degree of Lambeth Master of Arts
by the Archbishop of Canterbury
.
Born at her family's Castle Howard
, she worked for the ordination of women, as well as being active in the ecumenical movement. She was remembered as "a great character, a great Christian woman and a formidable person" by the Archdeacon of York, George Austin, who was one her staunchest opponents on the ordination of women.
Her grandmother, Rosalind, the wife of the 9th Earl of Carlisle
, had been a tireless worker for the women's suffrage
organization - as a suffragist, wedded to legal means, rather than a suffragette - and Howard followed her example in her work to achieve the ordination of women to the priesthood. A founding member of the Movement for the Ordination of Women, she concentrated her major effort on the synodical process to secure the necessary legislation. In 1972 she wrote a report for General Synod entitled The Ordination of Women to Priesthood.
She earned the Lambeth Diploma in Theology, was appointed a lay canon provincial of York Minster
, served on General Synod 1970-85, was a delegate to the World Council of Churches
(WCC) in 1961 and 1968, was appointed to the Faith and Order Commission of the WCC and served as the first woman vice-moderator.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(5 September 1916 – 22 April 1999) was the daughter of Geoffrey Howard
Geoffrey Howard (Liberal politician)
The Honourable Geoffrey William Algernon Howard JP was a British Liberal politician. He served as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household under H. H...
and Ethel Christian Methuen. She was awarded the honorary degree of Lambeth Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
by the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
.
Born at her family's Castle Howard
Castle Howard
Castle Howard is a stately home in North Yorkshire, England, north of York. One of the grandest private residences in Britain, most of it was built between 1699 and 1712 for the 3rd Earl of Carlisle, to a design by Sir John Vanbrugh...
, she worked for the ordination of women, as well as being active in the ecumenical movement. She was remembered as "a great character, a great Christian woman and a formidable person" by the Archdeacon of York, George Austin, who was one her staunchest opponents on the ordination of women.
Her grandmother, Rosalind, the wife of the 9th Earl of Carlisle
Earl of Carlisle
Earl of Carlisle is a title that has been created three times in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1322 when the soldier Andrew Harclay, 1st Baron Harclay was made Earl of Carlisle. He had already been summoned to Parliament as Lord Harclay in 1321...
, had been a tireless worker for the women's suffrage
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
organization - as a suffragist, wedded to legal means, rather than a suffragette - and Howard followed her example in her work to achieve the ordination of women to the priesthood. A founding member of the Movement for the Ordination of Women, she concentrated her major effort on the synodical process to secure the necessary legislation. In 1972 she wrote a report for General Synod entitled The Ordination of Women to Priesthood.
She earned the Lambeth Diploma in Theology, was appointed a lay canon provincial of York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
, served on General Synod 1970-85, was a delegate to the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
(WCC) in 1961 and 1968, was appointed to the Faith and Order Commission of the WCC and served as the first woman vice-moderator.