| Title | Archdeacon James Howson |
| Date | 1906 |
| Location | Guiseley |
| Photo ID | A358 |
| Comment | The Reverend James Francis Howson MA, Rector of Guiseley from 1906 to 1933. He was educated at Cambridge and a wealthy man, both his father and brother were senior clergymen. His sister Mary came to Guiseley with him to assist with his Parish duties. He restored St. Oswald’s rectory paying £3,000 himself towards the cost and also instigated improvements to the church. He was responsible for the reinstatement of the cross in Towngate facing opposition from some local Councillors who would have preferred a public toilet! He revived the Festival of St. Oswald with open-air services, visiting dignitaries and pageants, he was given the honour of Arch Deacon and became a Justice of the Peace. In February 1934 he visited Bath in the hope of alleviating rheumatism and died there suddenly. His wish to be cremated was honoured and his ashes were buried in the church he had served. |
E163 – Miss Mary Howson, 1910.
Miss Mary Howson – 1910
Reverend James Francis Howson’s sister, Miss Mary Howson. She lived at the Rectory and acted as his housekeeper. Upon the death of her brother in 1934, she returned to live in London where she died a year later in 1935.
D001 – Canon Howson, 1917/1918.
Canon Howson – 1917/1918
Canon James Francis Howson, Rector of St. Oswald’s Church, Guiseley, seen here in his capacity as Chaplain to the Forces at Catterick.
The photo was taken in Richmond.
BB083 – Canon Howson, Undated.
Canon Howson – Undated
Canon James Francis Howson, Rector of Guiseley is in the centre of the group, the other two clergymen were his curates.
B292 – Canon Howson, Undated.
Canon Howson – Undated
Sitting outside the old Rectory s Canon Howson Rector of St. Oswald’s Church.
He is in the middle with a curate on each side.
BB057 – Canon Howson, 1925.
Canon Howson – 1925
A signed photo of Canon James Francis Howson, Rector of Guiseley 1906-1934.
M339 – Canon Howson, Undated.
Canon Howson – Undated
The Rev. (Canon) James Francis Howson was Rector of Guiseley 1906 – 1934, he is seen here with Curates, Church Wardens and sides men outside the old Rectory.
P480 – Canon Howson, Undated.
Canon Howson – Undated
The Reverend James Francis Howson, MA., was Rector of Guiseley 1906 -1934.
He came from a wealthy family, both his father and brother were senior clergymen and was educated at Cambridge University.
Mary Howson who was his older sister came with him to Guiseley to act as his housekeeper and assist him in Parish duties.
As Rector he was respected and appreciated by his parishioners, he paid £3,000 from his own funds to refurbish the old Rectory, had improvements made to the fabric of St. Oswald’s Church and instigated the restoration of the town Cross in Towngate in 1913.
He was responsible for reviving the celebration of St. Oswald’s Day in August with a pageant and open air services.
In this photo he is in costume to play his part in a pageant.
During WW1 he served as an Army Chaplain, he became an Archdeacon and a Justice of the Peace.
In February 1934, he went to Bath hoping to find relief from rheumatism which was causing him discomfort, he died there aged 77 unexpectedly.
In accordance with his wishes he was cremated and his ashes buried in the churchyard of St. Oswald’s where he had spent so many years of his life.
N34 – Canon Howson, Undated.
Canon Howson – Undated
Newspaper cutting with a picture of Canon Howson, the text reads
” Archdeacon Howson, for 25 years Rector of Guiseley, who states that the thought of retiring has recently occupied his mind, though he has reached no definite conclusion. An exclusive Yorkshire Evening Post photograph of the Archdeacon at work in his study at the fine old Tudor Rectory. The Archdeacon is famous, through, among other things, his monthly letter to parishioners, which frequently contains delightful humorous anecdotes and reflections on life.”
P962 – Canon Howson, 1934.
Canon Howson – 1934
The internment of the ashes of Canon James Francis Howson, Rector of Guiseley and Archdeacon of Craven into the chancel. He was Rector of Guiseley from 1906 until his death in 1934, his resting place is covered with floral tributes.
Donated by Brian Haigh.
Previous Comments:
Re M339
Comment form our facebook page:
John Gascoigne: Super photo. Merely as points of interest and in no way as criticism it is certain that by this point JFH is styled Venerable and not Reverend Canon. Custom and practise tends to refer to the Assistant Curates simply as Curates whereas in fact the Curate in this picture is JFH himself. Finally the lay offices, peculiar to the C of E, are of one word names, churchwarden and sidesman. Again, only mentioned as interesting points hopefully. Keep the pics coming
Consolidated by Jack Brayshaw. 24 July 2022.
Last updated: 03 November 2023 – Photo ID: P962.
