McDowell was born in 1956 and was educated at
Annadale Grammar School, an all-boys
grammar school in south
Belfast, Northern Ireland. He studied history at
Queen's University Belfast, graduating with a
Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. He also holds a diploma in business studies from the
London School of Economics and a
Bachelor of Theology (BTh) degree in theology and biblical studies from
Trinity College Dublin. He pursued a career in business before being
ordained in 1996. ==Ordained ministry==