Harry Williams (priest)

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Harry Williams

Dean of Trinity College Chapel
ChurchChurch of England
In office1958 to 1969
Other post(s)Chaplain of Westcott House, Cambridge (1948 to 1951)
Monk of the Community of the Resurrection (1972 to 2006)
Orders
Ordination1943 (deacon)
1944 (priest)
Personal details
Born
Harry Abbott Williams

(1919-05-10)10 May 1919
Died30 January 2006(2006-01-30) (aged 86)
NationalityBritish
DenominationAnglicanism
SpouseNone
EducationCranleigh School
Alma materTrinity College, Cambridge
Cuddesdon College

Harry Abbott Williams, CR (10 May 1919 – 30 January 2006) was a British Church of England priest, monk, theologian and academic. After serving two curacies, he was chaplain of Westcott House, Cambridge. He then moved to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was a fellow and lecturer and was later Dean of Trinity College Chapel. In 1972, he left academia and entered religious life as a monk with the Community of the Resurrection.

Early life

Williams was born on 10 May 1919 in Rochester, Kent, England.[1] His father was a captain in the Royal Navy who had to retire early because he could not secure the required promotion in order to remain in the navy until retirement age.[2][3] His mother fell in love with a neighbour's son who was much younger than herself. Though it may not have been consummated, the affair led to tensions within the family. Eventually, the guilt experienced by Williams' mother led her to become an evangelical fundamentalist. She was described by her son as a "keen Christian out and out for Jesus".[2]

Williams was educated at Cranleigh School, an independent school in Cranleigh, Surrey.[4] It was during his time at Cranleigh that he was drawn to high church Anglicanism.[2] He won a scholarship to study theology at Trinity College, Cambridge.[1] He graduated in 1941 with a first class honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree; as per tradition, his BA degree was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA (Cantab)) degree.[1][5]

His bad eyesight meant that he was not found fit to be called up for military service during World War II. However, he had been found fit for home duties but the British Government had granted permission for ordinands to continue their training. Therefore, he was able to continue his studies without serving in the military.[2] In 1941, he entered Cuddesdon College, an Anglican theological college, to train for the priesthood. He undertook two years of formation before being ordained in 1943.[5]

Ordained ministry

Williams was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1943 and as a priest in 1944.[5] He served two curacies in the Diocese of London. From 1943 to 1945, he was a curate at St Barnabas' Pimlico.[1] From 1945 to 1948, he was a curate at All Saints, Margaret Street, an Anglo-Catholic church.[4]

In 1948, Williams returned to Cambridge to join the staff of Westcott House, a Liberal Anglo-Catholic theological college. The principal, Kenneth Carey, was a Liberal Christian and had sought out someone from the Anglo-Catholic tradition to even-out the leadership.[4] From 1948 to 1951, he served as the college chaplain and as a tutor in the New Testament.[1][5]

In 1951, Williams was elected a fellow of his alma mater, Trinity College, Cambridge. He left Westcott and joined Trinity as a lecturer in the New Testament.[1] It was during this time at Trinity that he had a nervous breakdown. He recovered and was appointed Dean of Trinity College Chapel in 1958.[5][4]

In 1969, at the age of 50, he made a life changing decision and entered the Community of the Resurrection. It had been thought that one day he would be made a bishop, but his earlier breakdown and now his entering religious life, ended any possibility of entering the episcopate.[3] After more than two years as a postulant, he took his religious vows and officially became a monk on 1 January 1972.[6] Having been the Dean of Trinity College when Prince Charles studied there, he was invited to the wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981. Williams composed and read one of the prayers used in the service.[7]

While a monk, he continued to write theological books that became bestsellers and also an autobiography.[4] He published nothing in the last 24 years of his life,[3] but an unpublished typescript and other unpublished works were found in his room after his death. These were published posthumously as Living Free.[8]

He remained living with the community until his death on 30 January 2006.[1] On 13 May, a memorial service was held at Trinity College, Cambridge.[9]

Personal life

Williams was homosexual and was one of the first Anglican priests to come out.[3] He had a number of casual sexual relationships with men, as well as at least two long-term same-sex relationships.[1]

While a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, Williams fell in love with a male colleague and could not mentally process that his religion considered this to be a grave sin. It was also at this time that he concluded from his studies of the New Testament that very little could be known about the historical Jesus. This personal and religious crisis caused a breakdown and he avoided church for 18 months. He could only return to his career and faith with the help of a non-religious therapist. They continued to meet together for the next 14 years so that Williams could continue to undergo psychotherapy and receive the support of his therapist.[1][2][3]

Selected works

  • Williams, H. A. (1951). Jesus and the Resurrection. London: Longmans.
  • Williams, H. A. (1960). God's Wisdom in Christ's Cross. London: Mowbray.
  • Williams, H. A. (1960). The Four Last Things. London: Mowbray.
  • Williams, H. A. (1965). The True Wilderness. London: Constable.
  • Williams, H. A. (1972). True Resurrection. London: Michael Beazley.
  • Williams, H. A. (1975). Poverty, Chastity and Obedience: the True Virtues. London: Michael Beazley.
  • Williams, H. A. (1975). True Christianity: the Oxford-Cambridge Lectures. Springfield, Il.: Templegate Publishers.
  • Williams, H. A. (1976). Tensions: Necessary Conflicts in Life and Love. London: Michael Beazley.
  • Williams, H. A. (1977). Becoming What I Am: a Discussion of the Methods and Results of Christian Prayer. London: Darton, Longman and Todd.
  • Williams, H. A. (1979). The Joy of God. London: Michael Beazley.
  • Williams, H. A. (1979). The Gay Christian Movement and the Education of Public Opinion. London: Gay Christian Movement.
  • Williams, H. A. (1982). Someday I'll Find You: an Autobiography. London: Michael Beazley.
  • Williams, H. A. (1984). True to Experience: an Anthology of the Words and Teaching of H.A. Williams. London: Michael Beazley.
  • Williams, H. A. (2006). Living Free. London: Continuum.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Father Harry Williams". The Daily Telegraph. 3 February 2006. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e Sisson, C. H. (2 December 1982). "Priests' Lib". London Review of Books. 4 (22): 24–25. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Fr Harry Williams CR". Church Times. 2 November 2006. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e Hare Duke, Michael (20 February 2006). "Harry Williams". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e "H A Williams". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  6. ^ "The Times Diary". The Times. No. 58360. 28 December 1971. p. 6.
  7. ^ Downie Jr., Leonard (30 July 1981). "Britain Celebrates, Charles Takes a Bride". The Washington Post. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Living Free". Bloomsbury Publishing. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Memorial Services". The Times. No. 68648. 15 March 2006. p. 50. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)