Howells, Adolphus Williamson

Howells was a Nigerian clergyman who became the first African vicar of the Pro-Cathedral Christ Church in Lagos.

He was born in Abeokuta on August 9, 186,6 and attended the Ake School there before entering the CMC Training Institute in Lagos in 1886.

In 1887 he was posted to St. Paul’s School (Breadfruit Street), Lagos, leaving in 1891 to study at Fourah Bay College, Freetown, and later at Durham University in England. Returning to Lagos in 1894 he was appointed tutor at the CMS Grammar School and was later given the responsibility of supervising the mission’s training institutions in Lagos.

Howells was made a deacon in 1897 and ordained a priest two years later. In 1900 he became curate of Christ Church Pro-Cathedral in Lagos and later pastor of St. John’s Parish Aroloya, where he served for several years before his posting in 1919 as the first African vicar of the Pro-Cathedral Church of Christ. His work there was highly regarded in the church and on June 24, 1920 the Archbishop of Canterbury consecrated him bishop at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Bishop Howells was posted to the the Niger Diocese and served there until 1933. He returned to the Lagos Diocese to become assistant to Bishop Melville Jones who was the bishop of Lagos. On 10 March 1933 he became the first resident bishop of Abeokuta. He served there till his retirement on 19 August 1936. Bishop Howells died on December 3, 1938.

Sources Consulted Include:

• Africa Year Book and Who’s Who (London: Africa Journal, 1977).

• Africa Today, first edition, (Denver, CO : Africa Today Associates, 1981).

• Africa Who’s Who, first edition, 1981.

• Africa Who’s Who, second edition, 1991 (published by Africa Books Ltd., U.K).

• Ralph Ewechue (ed.), Makers of Modern Africa, 2nd edition (London: Africa Books, 1991).

• Daily Times of Nigeria (Lagos).

• Nigeria Year Book, 1974, 1975, 1976-1978, 1979, 1980 (Lagos : Nigerian Printing & Publishing Co.).

• S. Decalo, Historical Dictionary of Togo, 3rd ed., (London : Scarecrow Press, 1996).

• Ralph Uweche, *Africa Who’s Who, 1991 * (Lagos, Nigeria: Africa Book Ltd.).

• J. C. Choate, The Voice of Truth International, 1991, Vol. 21 (U.S.A.)

• E. EL Hadj-Omar, Who’s Who In Africa Dictionary.

• In the Land of the Pharaohs- An introduction to a 1968 case study by Khalil Mahmud, 2nd ed., (London : Cass, 1968).

• L. H. Ofosu-Appiah, Dictionary of African Biography, volume on Ghana & Ethiopia, volume on Sierra Leone & Zaire, (New York : Reference Publications, 1977-).

• Cyril P. Foray, Historical Dictionary of Sierra Leone (London : Scarecrow Press, 1977).

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• H. Zell and H. Silver (eds.), A Reader’s Guide to African Literature (London : Heinemann, 1972).

• H. Zell, C. H. Bundy and V. Coulon (eds.), A New Reader’s Guide to African Literature, rev. ed., (London : Heinemann, 1983).

ARTICLES IN LEARNED JOURNALS

• Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria (Ibadan : Ibadan University Press): Vol. V Nos. 2 & 3, 1970, (Adeleye, R. A.).

• Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria (Ibadan : Ibadan University Press): Vol. VI Nos. 204, 1969, (Ekejiuba, F.).

• Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria, “A Biographical Sketch,” (Omu Okwei), (Ibadan : Ibadan University Press): Vol. III No 4, 1967.

• Journal of African History, (London : Cambridge University Press): Vol. V No 3, 194 (Hopkins A. G.).

PERIODICALS AND NEWSPAPERS CONSULTED

Africa (Tunis : Ministère des Affaires Culturelles et de l’Information, 1971 ff).

Africa Diary (Delhi : Africa Publications (India), 1961 ff).

Africa Research Bulletin (Africa Research Ltd), (Oxford : Blackwell, 1964 ff).

Ambassador International (Vol 211; 1985).

Commonwealth Currents (1978).

Guardian (London, s.n.).

Independent (London, s.n.).

The Times (London).

West Africa (London : West Africa Publishing, 1917).