Chorley – January 2020. The Delegation of Great Britain and Ireland of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George notes with much sadness the passing in London on 10 January 2020 aged 79, of John Cowdall. John Cowdall was appointed a Knight of Merit of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George by decree of HRH Prince Carlo of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro and Grand Master in April 2014. John was invested by the Delegation Sub-Prior and Archbishop of Cardiff, The Most Rev George Stack, at a ceremony held at the Italian Church in London.
John was proposed for investiture into the Constantinian Order by Lord Alton of Liverpool. Lord Alton said on John’s passing “Having first known one another through Local Government and the Liverpool Archdiocese, and then through family connections at St Mary’s Hall, John and I then served together as Governors of Stonyhurst (Chair of Governors from 2009 to 2018) and as Trustees of the Christian Heritage Centre Charity.
“In a wonderful career of public service John was able to look back with great delight on his achievements as Chief Executive of West Lancashire District Council, Trustee of Liverpool Archdiocese, Knight of St. Gregory and the Constantinian Order, champion of church conservation, and as a loving husband to Eileen and as a father and grandfather. Through working together on several projects we became colleagues and great friends. Together we founded the Christian Heritage Centre charity and we forged a creative partnership which has borne wonderful fruit. Theodore House is a permanent and lasting legacy, a gift which will benefit many people for years to come – and which, without John, could never have been brought to fruition”.