David Howell (16 August 1831 – 15 January 1903)[1] was the fourth Dean of St David's from 1897 to 1903.[2][3]
Life
Howell was the son of John Howell, farmer and Calvinistic Methodist deacon, of Treos, in the parish of Llangan, Glamorganshire. His mother being of weak health, he was brought up for the most part by his grandmother, Mary Griffiths of Tynycaeau, a church-woman. At the age of fifteen, he returned to his father's home, which was now at Bryn Cwtyn, near Pencoed. Farming, however, was not to his mind, and, having shown a decided bent for letters, he was persuaded by his mother and the rector of St. Mary Hill (afterwards well known as Archdeacon Griffiths of Neath) to prepare for orders in the Church of England. He studied at the Eagle School, Cowbridge, the Preparatory School, Merthyr, and the Llandaff Diocesan Institute at Abergavenny.[4]
^ abObituary - The Dean Of St. Davids.The Times Friday, Jan 16, 1903; pg. 4; Issue 36979; col C
^Although an ancient foundation, before 1840 the senior residentiary cleric was the Precentor, and not a Dean, due to a complication during the dissolution of the monasteries > “Eglwys Gadeiriol Tyddewi, 1181-1981 / St David's Cathedral, 1181-1981” St David's, Gwasg yr Oriel Fach, 1981 ISBN0-905421-02-7