Roy Williamson (bishop)

Roy Williamson
Bishop of Southwark
DioceseDiocese of Southwark
In office1991–1998
PredecessorRonald Bowlby
SuccessorTom Butler
Other post(s)Bishop of Bradford
1984–1991
Archdeacon of Nottingham
1978–1984
Orders
Consecrationc. 1984
Personal details
Born(1932-12-18)18 December 1932
Died17 September 2019(2019-09-17) (aged 86)
DenominationAnglican
Alma materKingston Polytechnic

Robert Kerr Williamson (8 December 1932 – 17 September 2019), known as Roy Williamson, was the seventh Bishop of Bradford[1] from 1984 until 1991, who was then translated to Southwark where he served until his retirement seven years later.

Williamson was born in Belfast[2] and educated at Kingston Polytechnic and Oak Hill Theological College.[3] His first post after ordination was as a curate at Crowborough Parish Church.[4] He then held incumbencies at St Paul, Hyson Green, Nottingham[5] and St Ann with Emmanuel, in the same city followed by Vicar of St Michaels, Bramcote before being appointed Archdeacon of Nottingham in 1978, his last post before elevation to the episcopate.[6]

On 11 February 2017, Williamson was one of fourteen retired bishops to sign an open letter to the then-serving bishops of the Church of England. In an unprecedented move, they expressed their opposition to the House of Bishops' report to General Synod on sexuality, which recommended no change to the Church's canons or practices around sexuality.[7] By 13 February, a serving bishop (Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham) and nine further retired bishops had added their signatures;[8] on 15 February, the report was rejected by synod.[9]

He died on 17 September 2019 at the age of 86.[10]

References

  1. ^ ”Debrett's People of Today 1992” (London, Debrett's) ISBN 1-870520-09-2)
  2. ^ "The Right Rev Roy Williamson: clear voiced, lively and decidedly liberal Anglican bishop who dismissed objections to the ordination of women and gay priests" The Times p54: Issue no 72,984 dated Tuesday 22 October 2019
  3. ^ ”Who's Who 1992 “(London, A & C Black ISBN 0-7136-3514-2)
  4. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory 1975-76 London: Oxford University Press, 1976 ISBN 0-19-200008-X
  5. ^ Church web site
  6. ^ The Times, Thursday, Dec 15, 1983; pg. 14; Issue 61713; col B Archdeacon to be Bishop of Bradford
  7. ^ Retired Bishops' Letter — The Letter Archived 2017-02-12 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 11 February 2017; the fourteen bishops were David Atkinson, Michael Doe, Tim Ellis, David Gillett, John Gladwin, Laurie Green, Richard Harries, Stephen Lowe, Stephen Platten, John Pritchard, Peter Selby, Tim Stevens, Martin Wharton, and Williamson.)
  8. ^ Retired Bishops' Letter — New Signatures Archived 2017-02-18 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 17 February 2017; the nine bishops were Gordon Bates, Ian Brackley, John Davies, Peter Maurice, David Rossdale, John Saxbee, Martin Shaw, Oliver Simon, and David Stancliffe.
  9. ^ "Church of England in turmoil as synod rejects report on same-sex relationships", The Guardian (Accessed 17 February 2017)
  10. ^ Williamson