Church Church of England Nationality British Predecessor Peter Hancock Elected 26 June 2014 Denomination Anglican Consecration September 19, 2014 | Installed 19 September 2014 Name David Williams Diocese Diocese of Winchester Birth name David Grant Williams Role Bishop of Basingstoke Ordination 1989 | |
Alma mater University of Bristol, Wycliffe Hall, Oxford | ||
Minister david williams
David Grant Williams (born 16 April 1961) is a Church of England bishop. He is the current Bishop of Basingstoke, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Winchester. Before his consecration in 2014, he was vicar of Christ Church, Winchester.
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Early life
Williams was born on 16 April 1961 in Reading, England, and spend his childhood in Uganda. He studied social policy at the University of Bristol, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree.
After university, he spent a number of years working in Kenya with the Church Mission Society. Along with his missionary work, he was deputy head of a secondary school in eastern Kenya. He returned to the UK to study for the ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.
Ordained ministry
Williams began his ministry by serving as a curate at All Saints Church, Ecclesall in the Diocese of Sheffield from 1989 to 1992. He was then vicar of Christ Church, Dore before being appointed Rural Dean of Ecclesall in 1997. In 2002, he became the vicar of Christ Church, Winchester. During his time at Christ Church, he also served the wider community: he set up the city's street pastors project, and made visits to Winchester Prison, to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital and to the University of Winchester. In 2012, he was appointed Honorary Canon of Winchester Cathedral.
He was elected to the General Synod, the governing body of the Church of England, in 2010. As a priest, he joined the House of Clergy. In 2012, he was appointed Chair of the House of Clergy of the Winchester Diocesan Synod. He stood down from these appointments upon becoming a bishop.
Episcopal ministry
In June 2014, it was announced that he would be the next Bishop of Basingstoke, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Winchester. On 19 September 2014, he was consecrated a bishop during a service at Winchester Cathedral by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury. He led his first service as bishop at St Michael's Church, Basingstoke on 28 September 2014.
Personal life
In 1986, Williams married Helen Pacey. Together they have one daughter and one son: Sarah and Mark.