Gwilym Williams
{{short description|Archbishop of Wales (1971 to 1982)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type =
| honorific-prefix = The Most Reverend
| name = Gwilym Williams
| honorific-suffix =
| title = Archbishop of Wales
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| church = Church in Wales
| province =
| diocese =
| see =
| elected =
| term = 1971–1981
| predecessor = Glyn Simon
| successor =Derrick Childs
| other_post = {{Plainlist|
- Bishop of Bangor (1957–1981)
}}
| ordination = 1937 (deacon)
1938 (priest)
| ordained_by =
| consecration = 1957
| consecrated_by = John Morgan
| birth_name = Gwilym Owen Williams
| birth_date = 23 March 1913
| birth_place = Finchley, London, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|1990|12|23|1913|3|23|df=y}}
| death_place =
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| resting_place_coordinates =
| nationality = British (Welsh)
| religion = Anglicanism
| residence =
| parents =
| spouse =
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| occupation =
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|previous_post =
| education =
| alma_mater = {{plainlist|
}}
}}
Gwilym Owen Williams (23 March 1913 – 23 December 1990) was a prominent figure in the Church in Wales who served as Bishop of Bangor from 1957 to 1982 and Archbishop of Wales from 1971 to 1982.
Biography
Williams was born to a deeply religious family in East Finchley, Greater London. He attended Brynrefail Grammar school and at Jesus College, Oxford He took first-class honours in English in 1933, and theology in 1935. He was made a deacon at Michaelmas 1937 (18 September){{Church Times | title = Ordinations | archive = 1937_09_24_320 | issue = 3896 | date = 24 September 1937 | page = 320 | accessed = 26 June 2018 }} and ordained priest the following Michaelmas (24 September 1938) — both times by William Havard, Bishop of St Asaph, at St Asaph Cathedral.{{Church Times | title = Ordinations | archive = 1938_09_30_338 | issue = 3949 | date = 30 September 1938 | page = 338 | accessed = 26 June 2018 }} He served as curate at St Asaph until 1940, when he was appointed chaplain at St David's College, Lampeter. In 1945 he moved to Bangor to take up a post as chaplain and tutor at St. Mary's College, Bangor, and as Lecturer in Theology at the University of Wales, Bangor.
In 1947 he became a Canon of Bangor Cathedral, and in 1948 moved to become headmaster of Llandovery College. He was elected Bishop of Bangor in 1957, consecrated a bishop by John Morgan, Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Llandaff, at Llandaff Cathedral on 1 May 1957 and installed at Bangor Cathedral the following week.{{Church Times | title = Welsh primate leaves sick bed to consecrate new bishop | archive = 1957_05_03_003 | issue = 4916 | date = 3 May 1957 | page = 3 | accessed = 26 June 2018 }} Williams became Archbishop of Wales in 1971, also continuing as Bishop of Bangor until his retirement in 1982.
Williams was passionate about preserving the Welsh language and he would later gain prominence as a member of a deputation of three who challenged Margaret Thatcher in her attempt to reduce the status of the Welsh language. The Welsh language meant a lot to him personally, and because of this he ensured that the new Bible would be translated in Welsh. He was also influential in the decision to ordain women priests and the creation of the first Welsh television station S4C. When a Welsh version of the Bible was published Williams was invited to preach before Queen Elizabeth II in St Asaph and Westminster Abbey.
References
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060104152944/http://www.walesontheweb.org/cayw/collections/en/699809 Wales on the Web]
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|wa}}
{{s-bef|before=John Charles Jones}}
{{s-ttl|title=Bishop of Bangor|years=1957–1982}}
{{s-aft|after=Cledan Mears}}
{{s-bef|before=Glyn Simon}}
{{s-ttl|title=Archbishop of Wales|years=1971–1982}}
{{s-aft|after=Derrick Childs}}
{{s-end}}
{{Bishops of Bangor since 1908}}
{{Archbishops of Wales}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Gwilym Owen}}
Category:English people of Welsh descent
Category:People educated at Llandovery College
Category:Academics of Bangor University
Category:Alumni of Jesus College, Oxford
Category:20th-century Anglican archbishops
Category:Welsh-speaking clergy