[taken from Chapter 1 Manx Worthies, A.W.Moore, 1901]

JOHN HOWARD (b. 1817, d. 1892),

son of the Rev. Thomas Howard and Nessy Stowell, daughter of Thomas Stowell, C.R., was educated at King William's College. Ordained in 1841, priested in 1842, he was for a short time a master in his old school, and then served in curacies in Liverpool, Castletown, and elsewhere. In 1847, he was appointed Vicar of Onchan, where he remained till his death. JOHN HOWARD's character was a remarkable one. He combined great kindliness of heart and sweetness of disposition with a quick temper and readiness to take offence. This, with his equal readiness to resort to physical force, frequently got him into trouble. He was noted for his physical strength and agility as well as for the considerable mental ability which he showed both as a preacher and a raconteur. He had an everflowing stream of excellent stories and was, consequently, a most entertaining companion. As a parish priest, he was distinguished by his reverent performance of the church services-his singularly beautiful voice being used with great effect-and for the genuine sympathy and real love which he had for the poor.

B, 3 Feb 1817, d. 7. Feb 1892