author
Vincent H. (Vincent Herbert) Gowen
1893–1984
A missionary, teacher, and Episcopal priest, this writer drew on years spent in China to create fiction and memoir rooted in cross-cultural experience. His work often reflects a life shaped by faith, travel, and close observation of everyday people.
1 Audiobook
Sun and moon
by Vincent H. (Vincent Herbert) Gowen
About the author
Born in New Westminster, British Columbia, in 1893, he moved to Seattle as a child after his father, Herbert H. Gowen, became rector of Trinity Episcopal Church. He later spent many years in China as a missionary and educator, experiences that would shape both his life and his writing.
He is known for books including Sun and Moon (1927) and Village on the Yangtze (1975), both connected to his time in Asia. A later book, Sunrise to Sunrise, also reflects on his early life and wider experiences.
In addition to writing, he was remembered on Bainbridge Island, Washington, as the longtime vicar of St. Barnabas Church and a respected local educator. He died in 1984, leaving behind work that blends personal reflection, religious commitment, and a vivid sense of place.