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,

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. He attended Brynrefail Grammar school and at Jesus College, Oxford He took first-class honours in English in 1933, and

theology Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...

in 1935. He was made a deacon at Michaelmas 1937 (18 September) and ordained priest the following Michaelmas (24 September 1938) — both times by William Havard, Bishop of St Asaph, at St Asaph Cathedral. 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. 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 Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher (; 13 October 19258 April 2013), was a British stateswoman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of th ...

in her attempt to reduce the status of the

Welsh language Welsh ( or ) is a Celtic languages, Celtic language of the Brittonic languages, Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales by about 18% of the population, by some in England, and in (the Welsh c ...

. 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

Wales on the Web
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Gwilym Owen 1913 births English people of Welsh descent 1990 deaths Archbishops of Wales Bishops of Bangor People educated at Llandovery College Academics of Bangor University Alumni of Jesus College, Oxford 20th-century Anglican archbishops Welsh-speaking clergy 20th-century bishops of the Church in Wales People from East Finchley