Trower was Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway[5] from 1848 to 1859.[6] Elected by eight votes to seven, he was the first English cleric appointed to a Scottish bishopric who had not previously ministered in Scotland and therefore did not understand the traditions of the Scottish Episcopal Church. He condemned everything that seemed consistent with ritualistic developments of the Oxford Movement and publicly opposed the eucharistic teaching of Bishop Alexander Forbes of Brechin. For half of his time as bishop he was not resident in the diocese.[7]
He gained some notoriety during the election of Frederick Temple as Bishop of Exeter when, on behalf of clergy who disapproved Temple's role as a contributor to the controversial Essays and Reviews, he instructed counsel to oppose the confirmation of the nomination which took place at St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, in December 1869. The opposition was unsuccessful. Temple went on to become Archbishop of Canterbury in 1896.[11]
He died aged 73 on 24 October 1877.[12] A noted artist[13] and author, two of his books have been republished in recent years.[14]
Family
In 1829 he was married to his childhood sweetheart Elizabeth Goring of Wiston House (1799-1876).[15] They had three daughters: Jane, Frances and Mary.[16]
