Tom Williams (bishop)

{{Short description|English prelate}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}

{{Infobox Christian leader

| type = Bishop

| honorific-prefix = The Right Reverend

| name = Thomas Anthony Williams

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| title = Titular Bishop of Mageo
Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Liverpool

| image = Religious leaders at the Horasis Global Meeting (27839442856) (Thomas Williams cropped).jpg

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| caption = Williams in 2016

| church = Roman Catholic Church

| archdiocese = Archdiocese of Liverpool

| province = Province of Liverpool

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| other_post = Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Liverpool (2013–2014)

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1948|02|10}}

| birth_place = Liverpool, England

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| nationality = British

| religion = Catholicism

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| alma_mater = English College, Lisbon

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{{Ordination

| name = Thomas

| ordained deacon by =

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| ordained priest by = George Andrew Beck

| date of priestly ordination = 27 May 1972

| place of priestly ordination = Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King

| consecrated by = Patrick Kelly

| co-consecrators = Vincent Malone
Augustine Harris

| date of consecration = 27 May 2003

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| sources = http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bwill.html

| alternate name = Williams

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}}

{{Infobox bishopstyles |

name=Thomas Williams |

dipstyle=The Right Reverend |

offstyle=My Lord |

relstyle=Monsignor }}

Thomas Anthony Williams (born 10 February 1948) is an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Until his retirement on 25 March 2023{{cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/news/bishop-tom-williams-retires-from-the-office-of-auxiliary-bishop-of-liverpool|accessdate=2023-03-25|date=25 March 2023|title=Bishop Tom Williams retires from the Office of Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool}} he served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Liverpool.{{cite web

|url=http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/page.cfm?objectid=12853645&method=full&siteid=50061&headline=Bishop%20with%20roots%20in%20the%20back%20streets|accessdate=2010-04-21|date=16 April 2003|title=Bishop with roots in the back streets|author=Tim Sharp|work=icLiverpool}}Archdiocese of Liverpool Directory 2010

Early life and ministry

Born on Shrove Tuesday, 10 February 1948, in Liverpool, Tom Williams entered Junior Seminary to train for the priesthood at Christleton Hall, Chester in 1961 before studying at the English College in Lisbon, Portugal, from September 1966 to 1971. He completed his studies at St Joseph's College, Upholland. Williams was ordained to the priesthood on 27 May 1972, at the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, by Archbishop George Andrew Beck.

He served at several parishes, including: St Francis of Assisi, Garston; Sacred Heart, Liverpool (where he was also Chaplain to the Royal Liverpool Hospital); Our Lady of Walsingham, Netherton; Our Lady Immaculate, Liverpool and St Anthony's, Scotland Road, Liverpool.

Episcopal career

On 15 April 2003, Williams was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool and Titular Bishop of Mageo by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on the following 27 May from Archbishop Patrick Kelly, with Bishops Vincent Malone and Augustine Harris serving as co-consecrators.

On 27 May 2012 Bishop Williams celebrated the Ruby Jubilee of his ordination to the Priesthood. It also marked the ninth anniversary of his Episcopal Ordination as Bishop of Mageo and Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool in the same Cathedral by Archbishop Patrick Kelly on 27 May 2003.

As Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool he also served as Chair of the Healthcare Reference Group of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.

At 12.00 noon, Rome time, on Saturday 25 March, it was published by the Holy See that the Holy Father Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Tom Williams from the office of Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool upon reaching the age of 75 years.[https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2023/03/25/230325b.html] Bishop Williams will now be known as Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus.

Honours

  • He was awarded the Freedom of the City of Liverpool on 30 September 2021.{{cite web |url=https://theguideliverpool.com/bishop-tom-williams-is-to-receive-the-freedom-of-liverpool/ |title=Bishop Tom Williams is to receive the Freedom of Liverpool |date=29 September 2021 |website=The Guide Liverpool |access-date=30 September 2021 }}{{cite web |url=https://liverpoolexpress.co.uk/bishop-tom-williams-to-receive-freedom-of-liverpool/ |title=Bishop Tom Williams to receive Freedom of Liverpool |date=29 September 2021 |website=Liverpool Express |access-date=30 September 2021 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.explore-liverpool.com/highest-liverpool-civic-honour-for-bishop-hospitals-and-fire-service/ |title=Highest Liverpool civic honour for Bishop, hospitals and fire service |date=9 January 2020 |website=Explore Liverpool |access-date=30 September 2021 }}

References

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