Harry Williams

Harry Abbott Williams (10 May 1919 – 30 January 2006) was a British Church of England priest, monk, theologian and academic. After serving two curacies, he was chaplain of Westcott House, Cambridge. He then moved to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was a fellow and lecturer and was later Dean of Trinity College Chapel. In 1972, he left academia and entered religious life as a monk with the Community of the Resurrection.

Early life Williams was born on 10 May 1919 in Rochester, Kent, England. His father was a captain in the Royal Navy who had to retire early because he could not secure the required promotion in order to remain in the navy until retirement age. It was during his time at Cranleigh that he was drawn to high church Anglicanism.

His bad eyesight meant that he was not found fit to be called up for military service during World War II. He had been found fit for home duties but the British Government had granted permission for ordinands to continue their training. Therefore, he was able to continue his studies without serving in the military. In 1941, he entered Cuddesdon College, an Anglican theological college, to train for the priesthood. He undertook two years of formation before being ordained in 1943. After his death, the Church Times summed up this period in his career as follows:

Williams is also remembered for a controversial appearance on the seminal 1960s BBC religious programme Meeting Point on which he suggested that the resurrection of Christ could be interpreted as a metaphor, and for being one of the first Anglican priests to be open about his homosexuality, as his candid autobiography, Some Day I'll Find You, shows.

In 1969, at the age of 50, he made a life-changing decision and entered the Community of the Resurrection. It had been thought that one day he would be made a bishop, but his earlier breakdown and now his entering religious life, ended any possibility of entering the episcopate.

In 1978 he was invited by the Headmaster of Westminster School to make a Lenten address, in the course of which he described Jesus as a "super God-filled man" and brushed off the Resurrection as a metaphor. This provoked one boy, the future Revd Christopher Loveless, to storm out.

Having been the Dean of Trinity College when Prince Charles studied there, he was invited to the wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981. Williams composed and read one of the prayers used in the service.

While a monk, Williams continued to write theological books that became bestsellers and also an autobiography.

Williams remained living with the community until his death on 30 January 2006.

Personal life Williams was homosexual and was one of the first Anglican priests to come out. He had a number of casual sexual relationships with men, as well as at least two long-term same-sex relationships.

While a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, Williams fell in love with a male colleague and could not mentally process that his religion considered this to be a grave sin. It was also at this time that he concluded from his studies of the New Testament that very little could be known about the historical Jesus. This personal and religious crisis caused a breakdown and he avoided church for 18 months. He could only return to his career and faith with the help of a non-religious therapist. They continued to meet together for the next 14 years so that Williams could continue to undergo psychotherapy and receive the support of his therapist.

Selected works