Paul Williamson

Paul Stewart Williamson (born 1950) is a controversial Anglo-Catholic priest in the Church of England. He has brought high-profile civil suits in English courts over matters of Anglican faith and practice, including the ordination of women to the priesthood and the legality of the marriage of Charles, Prince of Wales to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

In 2011, with others, Williamson challenged a major grant by the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament to the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. The Charity Commission for England and Wales, which described the complainants as "a substantial number", subsequently ruled that the grant had been unlawful.[1]

Williamson is a well-known opponent of the ordination of women to the priesthood. In 1997 he sued the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral for appointing a woman as a minor canon.[2]

On 16 July 1997, Williamson was declared to be a vexatious litigant by Lord Justice Rose at the Royal Courts of Justice.[3] As a result, he is no longer allowed to bring action within the Courts of England and Wales without permission.[4]

On 26 January 2015, Williamson interrupted the consecration service for the Church of England's first woman bishop, Libby Lane, at York Minster. His objection was responded to by the Archbishop of York and the service continued.[5]

Williamson is a member of the Society of Mary and priest in charge of St George's Church, Hanworth, West London. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1983.

References

  1. ↑ The ruling of the Charity Commission for England & Wales is available in full here
  2. ↑ "Frailty, thy name is Williamson". The Independent. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "VEXATIOUS LITIGANT - ATTORNEY GENERAL v WILLIAMSON". Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  4. ↑ https://www.gov.uk/vexatious-litigants
  5. ↑ The Telegraph, 26 January 2015]

External links