William Howard, 8th Earl of Wicklow
Encyclopedia
William Cecil James Philip John Paul Howard, 8th Earl of Wicklow (30 October 1902 – 8 February 1978), styled Viscount Clonmore until 1946, was an Irish peer.
He was the only child of Ralph Howard, 7th Earl of Wicklow
and the Countess of Wicklow, formerly Lady Gladys Mary Hamilton. His maternal grandparents were the 2nd Duke of Abercorn
and Lady Mary Anna Curzon-Howe.
He was known as Viscount Clonmore until succeeding to the Earldom in 1946.
He was educated at Eton College
, Magdalen College, Oxford
and St Stephen's House, Oxford
and ordained deacon and priest in the Anglican Communion
. Among his Oxford associates figure Glyn Simon
, Evelyn Waugh
and John Betjeman
. He worked for the Magdalen Mission in Somers Town
. Having been a zealous Anglo-Catholic
, he converted to Roman Catholicism
in 1932 and thereafter lived as a layman. He was disinherited by his father and banished from the family home on Sundays because he was thought to be an embarrassment on account of his attending Mass
with the servants, who were Catholics. During World War II
he served as a Captain
in the Royal Fusiliers.
On 2 September 1959 he married Eleanor Butler, an architect and a member of the Seanad Éireann
between 1948 and 1951.
He was the only child of Ralph Howard, 7th Earl of Wicklow
Ralph Howard, 7th Earl of Wicklow
Ralph Francis Howard, 7th Earl of Wicklow was an Irish aristocrat and politician.He was the son of Cecil Howard, 6th Earl of Wicklow and Francesca Maria Chamberlayne. He married Lady Gladys Mary Hamilton , daughter of James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn and Lady Mary Anna Curzon, on 14 January 1902...
and the Countess of Wicklow, formerly Lady Gladys Mary Hamilton. His maternal grandparents were the 2nd Duke of Abercorn
James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn
James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn KG, CB, PC , styled Viscount Hamilton until 1868 and Marquess of Hamilton from 1868 to 1885, was a British nobleman and diplomat...
and Lady Mary Anna Curzon-Howe.
He was known as Viscount Clonmore until succeeding to the Earldom in 1946.
He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
and St Stephen's House, Oxford
St Stephen's House, Oxford
St Stephen’s House, Oxford , is an Anglican theological college and one of six religious Permanent Private Halls of the University of Oxford, England...
and ordained deacon and priest in the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
. Among his Oxford associates figure Glyn Simon
Glyn Simon
William Glyn Hughes Simon was the Anglican Archbishop of Wales from 1968 to 1971.Simon was born in Swansea, where his father was curate at St Gabriel's church. He was baptised by David Lewis Prosser, later to become the third Archbishop of Wales....
, Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
and John Betjeman
John Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman, CBE was an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack".He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture...
. He worked for the Magdalen Mission in Somers Town
Somers Town, London
Somers Town, was named for Charles Cocks, 1st Baron Somers. The area in St Pancras, London, was originally granted by William III to John Somers, Lord Chancellor and Baron Somers of Evesham. It was to be strongly influenced by the three mainline north London railway termini: Euston , St...
. Having been a zealous Anglo-Catholic
Anglo-Catholicism
The terms Anglo-Catholic and Anglo-Catholicism describe people, beliefs and practices within Anglicanism that affirm the Catholic, rather than Protestant, heritage and identity of the Anglican churches....
, he converted to Roman Catholicism
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in 1932 and thereafter lived as a layman. He was disinherited by his father and banished from the family home on Sundays because he was thought to be an embarrassment on account of his attending Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
with the servants, who were Catholics. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served as a Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
in the Royal Fusiliers.
On 2 September 1959 he married Eleanor Butler, an architect and a member of the Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
between 1948 and 1951.
Publications
- Pierre Barbet, The corporal passion of Jesus Christ tr. the Earl of Wicklow (Dublin: Clonmore & Reynolds, 1950, 1954, 1955)
- The Earl of Wicklow, More about Dom Marmion: a study of his writings together with a chapter from an unpublished work and a biographical sketch (Dublin: Clonmore & Reynolds; London: Burns, Oates, & Washbourne, 1950)
- R. P. H. Perroy, The mass explained to children, tr. the Earl of Wicklow (Dublin: Clonmore & Reynolds, 1956)
- The Earl of Wicklow, Fireside Fusilier with an introduction by Evelyn Waugh (Dublin: Clonmore & Reynolds; London: Hollis & Carter, 1958; Derby: Citadel Press, 1970)
- The Earl of Wicklow, ed., Rome is home: the experience of converts with a preface by Edward Charles Rich (Dublin: Clonmore & Reynolds, 1959)