 Born in Sydney, Australia, Gowing was educated at North Sydney High School and the universities of Sydney and Oxford, before beginning his ordained ministry as a curate at St Mary's Deane Stafford.After an incumbency at St Peter's Norbiton, he emigrated to New Zealand in 1950 where he was Vicar of Merivale and Archdeacon of Christchurch before his appointment to the episcopal see of Auckland in 1960; he was consecrated a bishop on 1 November 1960.He was one of the last bishops to wear the traditional frock coat, hose and gaiters.