Bishop Howe Of South Carolina

Many American families had siblings on opposite sides of the Civil War; the Howes did, as well. The Rt. Rev. William Howe was rector of Episcopal parishes in South Carolina during the war, and became Bishop during Reconstruction. He was John and James Howe’s brother.

Bp. Howe’s clergy respected him so profoundly that after his 1894 death, they published a book of his sermons from manuscripts obtained from Bp. Howe’s daughter. John Howe’s books about finance were not the only Howe brothers’ books.

This first part of Bp. Howe’s biography in the book explains his move from Clairmont, NH, to South Carolina. To summarize the rest: …as a postulant 12 Feb 1845, deacon 9 April 1847, priest 3 June 1849. Rector of several parishes, most notably St. Philips, Charleston, in which churchyard he is buried. Consecrated Bishop of South Carolina 8 Oct 1871. His remarkable episcopacy oversaw the reconstruction of many churches pillaged and torched in the Civil War, their congregations riven by the conflict. Ten churches were burned, three had disappeared, 22 were suspended, eleven parsonages burned, and only four parishes maintained services during the war. As Bishop, he consecrated 28 new or rebuilt churches; he confirmed over 6700. Bp. Howe died 25 Nov 1894. RIP. St. Phillip’s Church was one of six SC parishes which left the Episcopal Church, joined the Anglican Church in North America and kept their property (2022 court decision).