Harold Williams (priest)

Harold Claude Noel Williams (born 6 December 1914^[1] - 5 April 1990), commonly known as H. C. N. Williams, was an Anglican priest and author.

Williams was born in Grahamstown, South Africa and educated at Graeme College (South Africa) and Durham University (England). He was ordained in 1938 and began his ministry with a curacy at St Mary with St Paul, Weeke near Winchester (England).^[2] From 1941 to 1949 he was Principal of St Matthew’s College in South Africa. He then held incumbencies at Holy Ascension Hyde^[3] and St Mary’s, Southampton (England). In 1958^[4] he became Provost of the Cathedral Church of St Michael, Coventry (England),^[5] a position he held for 23 years.^[6]

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

Williams also wrote several tourist guides and books, or editions of books, about Coventry Cathedral and compilations of African vocal music.

References