Michael Bowen (bishop)

The Most Reverend Michael Bowen
Archbishop of Southwark
Archdiocese	Southwark
See	Southwark
Appointed	28 March 1977
Term ended	6 November 2003
Predecessor	Cyril Conrad Cowderoy
Successor	Kevin John Patrick McDonald
Previous post(s)	Coadjutor Bishop of Arundel and Brighton (1970–1971) Titular Bishop of Lamsorti (1970–1971) Bishop of Arundel and Brighton (1971–1977)
Orders
Ordination	6 July 1958 by Luigi Traglia
Consecration	27 June 1970 by Domenico Enrici
Personal details
Born	Michael George Bowen (1930-04-23)23 April 1930 Gibraltar
Died	17 October 2019(2019-10-17) (aged 89) Vauxhall, Central London, England
Nationality	British
Denomination	Roman Catholic

Styles of Michael Bowen
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	His Grace
Religious style	Monsignor

Michael George Bowen (23 April 1930 – 17 October 2019) was a British prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Southwark from 1977 to 2003, having previously served as Bishop of Arundel and Brighton.

Life and ministry

Michael Bowen was born in Gibraltar on 23 April 1930 and was a wine merchant^[1] before being ordained to the priesthood on 6 July 1958. On 18 May 1970 he was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Arundel and Brighton and Titular Bishop of Lamsorti by Pope Paul VI. Bowen received his episcopal consecration on the following 27 June from Archbishop Domenico Enrici with bishops David Cashman and Derek Worlock serving as co-consecrators.

Bowen succeeded the late David Cashman as Bishop of Arundel and Brighton on 14 March 1971. Bowen was later named Archbishop of Southwark on 28 March 1977. He resigned this post, after 26 years of service, on 6 November 2003. Following the announcement of his resignation, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor said,

Archbishop Michael Bowen enters a well earned retirement after many years of faithful and joyous service on behalf of the Church ... He has been a true teacher and guide to his flock, a man who has led with certainty and humility, and served well the people and priests of his Archdiocese.^[2]

Bowen died on 17 October 2019, aged 89.^[3]

References

1. London SE1. Archbishop of Southwark to retire 24 May 2003
2. Archdiocese of Westminster. New Archbishop of Southwark 6 November 2003
3. Dodd, Liz (17 October 2019). "Southwark Archbishop Emeritus Michael Bowen dies aged 89". The Tablet.

External links

• Catholic-Hierarchy

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by David Cashman	Bishop of Arundel and Brighton 1971–1977	Succeeded by Cormac Murphy-O'Connor
Preceded by Cyril Cowderoy	Archbishop of Southwark 1977–2003	Succeeded by Kevin McDonald