William Leonard Williams (1829 - 1916) was an Anglican Bishop of Waiapu. He was regarded as an eminent scholar of the Māori language.
Williams was born on the 22 July 1829 at Paihia, Bay of Islands, New Zealand. He was the third child and first son of William Williams of the Church Mission Society and his wife, Jane.[1] He was educated in New Zealand before attending Magdelen College in Oxford where he obtained a third class honours degree in 1852 and following his father joined the Church Missionary Society. In the following year he married Sarah Wanklyn at Witherslack Chapel, Westmorland and both set sail in August on a five month journey to New Zealand.
Williams was made responsible for the training of Māori students into the Anglican church. He was regarded as the most learned scholar of Māori culture. He would travel on horseback around his diocese accompanied by two assistants. During his lifetime he reissued his father's publication, A dictionary of the New Zealand language twice, as well as publishing his own book introducing the Māori language and contributing to the study of New Zealand plants.[1] Interestingly this book was again reissued by his son, the Rt Revd Herbert Williams, who also followed Williams and his father as a bishop of the same diocese.
Williams became the Bishop of Waiapu in 1895, following his late father's career as his father had been the first bishop.[2] Williams retired in 1909 when he found the job too difficult. He died at his home in Napier in 1916.[1]
| Religious titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Edward Craig Stuart |
Bishop of Waiapu 1895–1909 |
Succeeded by Alfred Walter Averill |