Rowan Williams - Early Life and Ordination

Early Life and Ordination

Williams was born on 14 June 1950 in Ystradgynlais, Swansea, Wales, into a Welsh-speaking family. He was the only child of Aneurin Williams and Delphine ("Del", "Nancy") née Morris — Presbyterians who became Anglicans in 1961. He was educated at the state school Dynevor School in Swansea, before going to the University of Cambridge, where he studied theology at Christ's College. He then went to Wadham College at the University of Oxford, where he received his Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in 1975.

Williams lectured at the College of the Resurrection, in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, for two years. In 1977 he returned to Cambridge to teach theology, first at Westcott House, having been ordained deacon at Ely Cathedral that year and priest in 1978.

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