William Richard Williams (theologian)

William Richard Williams (4 April 1896 – 18 December 1962) was the Principal of the United Theological College, Aberystwyth from 1949 to 1962, the first Secretary of the Council of Churches of Wales, and later its president.

[1] Born at Pwllheli in Gwynedd to Richard and Catherine Williams, Williams moved to Aberystwyth with his mother on the death of his father in 1912 after winning a scholarship to University College, Aberystwyth, where he graduated in Greek and Philosophy.

He served in the British Army during World War I, after which he studied at Lincoln College, Oxford, graduating with a first class BA degree in Theology.

[1] Williams was an assistant lecturer at the United Theological College, Aberystwyth under Principal Owen Prys from 1925 to 1927, and Professor of Philosophy of religion from 1927 to 1928), and of Greek and New Testament exegesis from 1928 to 1949, when he was appointed Principal of the college, a position he held until his death in 1962.

He was a member of the joint-committee which was appointed to prepare a new English translation of the Bible, and in 1961 he was appointed director of a committee which was set up to prepare a new Welsh translation of the Bible.