Desmond Williams

Desmond James Williams OBE (7 July 1932 – 31 January 2026) was a British architect who specialised in church architecture and was influenced by the Liturgical Movement. He was one of the most important architects of the Catholic Modernist movement in the United Kingdom.

Background Desmond James Williams was born in Whalley Range, Manchester, on 7 July 1932, the son of submarine electrical draughtsman Sydney Williams and Eleanor, a "staunch Catholic", His was married twice: first to Felicity McDonnell, and later to Susan Richardson. He had four children: Andy and Jez (twins, who are members of the band Doves) and Dominic and Sarah (who both became architects). Desmond Williams's other interests were aviation and music.

Williams died on 31 January 2026, at the age of 93. He initially worked with Arthur Facebrother, before setting up his own practice (Desmond Williams and Associates) in Manchester in the early 1960s, which in 1968 amalgamated with W and J B Ellis to become Ellis Williams Architects (still in practice today).

Mainstream Modern noted that Williams's Stella Maris Hostel (1966) was a "subtle but stylised building [that] has been much admired by enthusiasts of modern architecture and is often cited as one of the better, but lesser known examples of its time". It designed to resemble the bridge of a ship. But despite the admiration of modernist enthusiasts it was eventually demolished and replaced by housing.

A number of his buildings have now been listed on the National Heritage List for England including: St Augustine, Manchester 1966–1968 (Grade II) St Dunstan, Birmingham, 1966–1968 (Grade II) St Michael, Penn, Wolverhampton, 1967–1968 (Grade II) St Mary Dunstable (Grade II), which was built in 1964 at a cost of £72,000. Williams said of the building: "It was circular, with the object being to bring as many of the congregation near the altar, and proved very popular in attracting worshippers. The ceiling was inspired by my earlier visits to kings College Chapel in Cambridge."

Other buildings

St Mary, Blackburn (1959) - Designed by Desmond Williams & Associates whilst working for Arthur Farebrother and Partner Sacred Heart, Salford (1962) - Designs completed by Arthur Farebrother and Partner in 1960 but probably the first commission to be completed by Desmond William's own practice Immaculate Conception, Bicester (1963) St Anthony, Slough (1964) St Catherine of Siena, Didsbury (1957) St Joseph, Ashton under Lyme (1965) Presbytery, Church of the Holy Trinity, Chipping Norton (1966; Grade II listed) - remodelled and reordered, and the western bell tower taken down, by Desmond Williams Associates Stella Maris Hostel (1966) Our Lady, Oldham (1967; Grade II listed) St Patrick, Rochdale (1968) St Patrick, Coventry (1971)

Works

Awards and nominations Williams was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1988 New Year Honours.