Career
Although he succeeded George Selwyn in having jurisdiction in this portion of New Zealand, he was the first bishop to be known specifically as Bishop of Auckland. Bishop Cowie was born in London, educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and received his Bachelor in 1855, Master of Arts in 1865, Doctor of Divinity honoris causa from Oxford in 1897. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1854 by the Bishop of Ely, and to the priesthood in 1855, also by the Bishop of Ely.
He was also closely involved with the ordination of indigenous Melanesian clergy.
Cowie attended the Lambeth Conference in 1888 and 1897. In June 1902 it was announced that he would resign as bishop and primate, due to ill-health, but he died before stepping down the following week, on 21 June 1902 in Parnell, Auckland, and was buried at Street Stephen"s Cemetery.
She died on 18 August 1902.