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Colin Henry Williams (born 12 August 1952) is a British Anglican priest. Since 2015, he has served as an Archdeacon in the Diocese in Europe; he was Archdeacon of Lancaster from 1999 to 2005.

Early life and education

Williams was born on 12 August 1952, the son of William Henry Williams and Blanche Williams. He was educated at King George V Grammar School for Boys, Southport, and Pembroke College, Oxford, whence he graduated Bachelor of Arts (BA) 1973 and proceeded Master of Arts (Oxford) (MA Oxon) 1977. He trained as a solicitor at the College of Law, Chester, qualified and practised as a solicitor in Wigan, 1974–1978.

Ordained ministry

Williams trained for the ministry at St Stephen's House, Oxford, 1980–1981, gaining a second BA. He was made a deacon at Petertide 1981 (12 July) and ordained a priest the Petertide following (4 July 1982) – both times by David Sheppard, Bishop of Liverpool, at Liverpool Cathedral. After a curacy at St Paul's Stoneycroft, Liverpool, he was Team Vicar in Walton from 1984 to 1989. He served as domestic chaplain to the Bishop of Blackburn (Alan Chesters) – and Chaplain (lead clergy) of Whalley Abbey retreat and conference centre – from 1989 to 1994. Whilst Vicar of St Chad's Poulton-le-Fylde from 1994 to 1999, he was also elected a Proctor in Convocation, serving two quinquennia (1995–2005), and became a member of the Meissen Commission (1996–2005).

In 1999, he was collated Archdeacon of Lancaster (in the Diocese of Blackburn), which post he held (he was afterwards made "archdeacon emeritus") until his 2005 appointment as General Secretary of the ecumenical Conference of European Churches, based in Geneva. While Archdeacon, he was a member of the Council for Christian Unity, 2003–2005; he was later made an honorary canon of Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Gibraltar, 2007–2010. He returned to parish ministry in 2010, becoming Team Rector of the Ludlow Team Ministry; during which time he was made an honorary canon and prebendary of Hereford Cathedral from 2014 onwards.

On 24 May 2015, it was announced that Williams would become Archdeacon of Europe – i.e. the first full-time Archdeacon in the Diocese in Europe from October 2015. Historically, archdeacons in Europe have had other parochial (chaplaincy) duties in addition to their work as archdeacons. He was in charge of both the Eastern archdeaconry and that of Germany and Northern Europe, and he was based in Frankfurt, Germany.

In 2018, it was announced that Williams is to retire effective 31 March 2019.

References

1. ^ Diocese in Europe — First full time archdeacon appointed Archived 29 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 29 May 2015)
2. ^ "Williams, Colin Henry". Who's Who. Vol. 2014 (November 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 29 May 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
3. ^ "Colin Henry Williams". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
4. "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 6177. 3 July 1981. p. 16. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 6 January 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
5. "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 6229. 2 July 1982. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 6 January 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
6. Church of England website. Archived:
7. "Photo of the Ven C. H. Williams" Archived:
8. BBC News — Ludlow rector to become Archdeacon of Europe
9. Church Times — Review of the year 2015: appointments
10. "Resignations and retirements". Church Times. No. 8103. 6 July 2018. p. 42. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 8 August 2018.

v t e Church of England Diocese in Europe
Episcopal oversight Bishops Robert Innes, Bishop in Europe Andrew Norman, Suffragan Bishop-designate in Europe AEO: Luke Irvine-Capel, Bishop suffragan designate of Richborough & Rob Munro, Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet Dean Dean of Gibraltar Ian Tarrant Historic offices Bishop of Gibraltar (1842–1980; see Bishop in Europe) Bishop suffragan of Fulham (1926–1980; suff. to London) Headquarters Office of the Bishop in Europe, Brussels, Belgium (since 2014) Bishop's Lodge, Worth, Crawley (1993–2013) Church House, Westminster
Archdeaconries Eastern Archdeacon Archdeacon of the East Leslie Nathaniel Churches Anglican Church (Bucharest) Saint Margaret of Scotland Anglican Episcopal Church (Budapest) Crimea Memorial Church St. John the Evangelist's Anglican Church, İzmir St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Moscow St. Saviour's Church, Riga Christ Church, Vienna Germany and Northern Europe Archdeacon Archdeacon of Germany and Northern Europe Leslie Nathaniel Churches St. Olaf's Church, Balestrand St. George's Anglican Church, Berlin St. Alban's Church, Copenhagen Anglican Church in Finland Chaplaincy of Saint Nicholas, Helsinki St. Edmund's Church, Oslo France Archdeacon Archdeacon of France Peter Hooper Churches Christ Church, Lille Lyon Anglican Church St. Mark's Church, Versailles Gibraltar Archdeacon Archdeacon of Gibraltar David Waller Churches Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Gibraltar St George's Church, Barcelona St. George's Church, Lisbon St George's Anglican Church, Madrid All Saints' Church, Puerto de la Cruz Church of Saint Andrew, Tangier Italy and Malta Archdeacon Archdeacon of Italy and Malta David Waller Churches St Paul's Pro-Cathedral, Valletta St Mark's English Church, Florence All Saints' Church, Rome St George's Church, Venice Northwest Europe Archdeacon Archdeacon of North West Europe Sam Van Leer Churches Holy Trinity Pro-Cathedral, Brussels St. Boniface Church, Antwerp Holy Trinity, Brussels St Mary's Church, Rotterdam Saint George's Memorial Church, Ypres Switzerland Archdeacon Archdeacon of Switzerland Peter Hooper Churches Holy Trinity Church, Geneva
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• English solicitors
• Archdeacons of Lancaster
• Archdeacons of Europe
• Archdeacons of the Eastern Archdeaconry
• Archdeacons of Germany and Northern Europe
• 1952 births
• Living people
• People educated at King George V College
• Alumni of Pembroke College, Oxford