About Harold Williams
Lived 1914 – 1990 (aged 75). Harold Williams was a South African provost, anglican priest, cleric and cathedral provost.
Harold Claude Noel Williams (6 December 1914 – 5 April 1990), commonly known as H. C. N. Williams or Bill Williams, was an Anglican priest and author.
Williams was born in Grahamstown, South Africa and educated at Graeme College (South Africa) and Durham University, where he was a Theological Exhibitioner at Hatfield College.
He was ordained in 1938 and began his ministry as a curate at St Mary with St Paul's Weeke near Winchester in England. From 1941 to 1949 he was Principal of St Matthew's College in South Africa. He then returned to England and held incumbencies at St Bartholomew's Hyde, Winchester and St Mary's, Southampton. In 1958 he became Provost of the Cathedral Church of St Michael, Coventry, a position he held for 23 years.
Writings
African Folk Songs, 1948 Vision of Duty, 1963 Twentieth Century Cathedral: An Examination of the Role of Cathedrals in the Strategy of the Church in the Changing Pattern of a Twentieth Century Community, 1964 Coventry Cathedral and its Ministry, 1965 Coventry Cathedral in Action, 1968 Basics and Variables: The Future of the Church in the Modern World, 1970 The Latter Glory: The Story of Coventry Cathedral, 1978 Order My Steps in Thy Way, 1982 Building A Community, 1990 (publ.2012)
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Harold Williams's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Harold Williams's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Harold Williams?
Anglican priest and author (1914–1990)
When was Harold Williams born?
Harold Williams was born on 6 December 1914 in Makhanda.
When did Harold Williams die?
Harold Williams died on 5 April 1990.
What was Harold Williams's occupation?
Harold Williams was a provost, anglican priest, cleric and cathedral provost.
What nationality was Harold Williams?
Harold Williams was South African.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Bill Williams (priest)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Harold Williams. https://biography.guide/harold-williams-provost/
MLA: "Harold Williams." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/harold-williams-provost/.
Chicago: "Harold Williams." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/harold-williams-provost/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:06 UTC