David Williams (bishop of Basingstoke)

Church of England bishop (born 1961)

The Right Reverend

David Williams

Bishop of Basingstoke
Church| Church of England
Diocese| Winchester
In office| 2014 to present
Predecessor| Peter Hancock
Other post(s)| Bishop-designate of Truro (2024-present)
Previous post(s)| Vicar of Christ Church, Winchester (2002–2014)
Orders
Ordination| 1989
Consecration| 19 September 2014
by Justin Welby
Personal details
Born|

David Grant Williams

(1961-04-16) 16 April 1961 (age 63)
Nationality| British
Denomination| Anglican
Spouse|

Helen

(m. 1986)​

Children| 2
Alma mater| University of Bristol
Wycliffe Hall, Oxford

David Grant Williams (born 16 April 1961) is a Church of England bishop. He is the current Bishop of Basingstoke, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Winchester.[1] Before his consecration in 2014, he was vicar of Christ Church, Winchester.[2] In December 2024, it was announced he is to become the next Bishop of Truro.[3]

## Early life

[edit]

Williams was born on 16 April 1961 in Reading, England,[4] and spend his childhood in Uganda.[2] He was educated at Newport Free Grammar School, then a grammar school in Newport, Essex.[5] He studied social policy at the University of Bristol, graduating with a Bachelor of Social Science (BSocSc) degree.[1][6]

After university, he spent a number of years working in Kenya with the Church Mission Society. Along with his missionary work, he was deputy head of a secondary school in eastern Kenya.[2] He returned to the UK and served as a lay assistant at Christ Church Clifton, Bristol, from 1985 to 1986.[5] He then went on to study for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, between 1986 and 1989.[1][6]

## Ordained ministry

[edit]

Williams was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1989 and as a priest in 1990.[6] He began his ordained ministry as a curate at All Saints Church, Ecclesall, in the Diocese of Sheffield from 1989 to 1992. He was then vicar of Christ Church, Dore, before being appointed Rural Dean of Ecclesall in 1997. In 2002, he became the vicar of Christ Church, Winchester.[1] During his time at Christ Church, he also served the wider community: he set up the city's street pastors project, and made visits to Winchester Prison, to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital and to the University of Winchester.[7][8] In 2012, he was appointed an honorary canon of Winchester Cathedral.[1]

He was elected to the General Synod, the governing body of the Church of England, in 2010. As a priest, he joined the House of Clergy. In 2012, he was appointed Chair of the House of Clergy of the Winchester diocesan synod.[1] He stood down from these appointments upon becoming a bishop.

### Episcopal ministry

[edit]

In June 2014, it was announced that he would be the next Bishop of Basingstoke, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Winchester.[1] On 19 September 2014, he was consecrated a bishop at Winchester Cathedral by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury.[9] He led his first service as bishop at St Michael's Church, Basingstoke on 28 September 2014.[7]

On 20 May 2021, it was reported that Tim Dakin, Bishop of Winchester, had "stepped back" as diocesan bishop for six weeks, in light of the threat of a diocesan synod motion of no confidence in his leadership. Williams also "stepped back" and Debbie Sellin, Bishop of Southampton, served as acting diocesan bishop.[10] Williams' leave was later extended to the end of August 2021.[11]

On 11 December 2024, the Prime Minister's Office announced that Williams was to be the next Bishop of Truro. No date was given for the translation.[3][12]

## Personal life

[edit]

In 1986, Williams married Helen Pacey.[13] They have one daughter and one son, Sarah and Mark.[1]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Suffragan Bishop of Basingstoke: David Grant Williams". News. GOV.UK. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
2. ^ a b c "New Bishop of Basingstoke announced". BBC News. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
3. ^ a b "Appointment of Bishop of Truro". Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 11 December 2024.
4. ^ "Williams, David Grant". Who's Who. Vol. 2016 (November 2015 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 24 July 2016. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
5. ^ a b "✠ The Rt Revd David Grant WILLIAMS". The Church of England Year Book. Church House Publishing. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
6. ^ a b c "David Grant Williams". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
7. ^ a b Di Salvo, Mathew (19 September 2014). "New Bishop of Basingstoke consecrated in "epic" service". Basingstoke Observer. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
8. ^ "A new Bishop for Basingstoke". News. Diocese of Winchester. 26 June 2014. Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
9. ^ Bave, Jessica (19 September 2014). "New Bishop of Basingstoke consecrated in Winchester". Basingstoke Gazette. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
10. ^ "Bishop of Winchester steps back after diocesan rebellion". Church Times. No. 8253\. 21 May 2021. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
11. ^ "Talks about Dakin's future to continue". Church Times. No. 8259\. 2 July 2021. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
12. ^ "New Bishop of Truro announced". Diocese of Truro. 11 December 2024. Archived from the original on 11 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
13. ^ "BASINGSTOKE, Bishop Suffragan of". Who's Who 2017. Oxford University Press. November 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.

Church of England titles

Preceded by

Peter Hancock

|  Bishop of Basingstoke
2014–present  | Incumbent

* v
* t
* e

Bishops of Basingstoke

* Colin James
* Michael Manktelow
* Geoffrey Rowell
* Trevor Willmott
* Peter Hancock
* David Williams

* v
* t
* e

Diocese of Winchester

* Winchester Cathedral
* Wolvesey Palace
* Wolvesey Castle
* Farnham Castle
* Winchester Palace
* Old Alresford Place
* Winchester House, Chelsea

Office holders|

* Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Winchester
* David Williams, Bishop suffragan of Basingstoke and Bishop-designate of Truro
* Rhiannon King, Bishop suffragan of Southampton
* AEO: Luke Irvine-Capel, Bishop suffragan of Richborough & Rob Munro, Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet
* Catherine Ogle, Dean of Winchester
* Richard Brand, Archdeacon of Winchester
* Jean Burgess, Archdeacon of Bournemouth

Selected deaneries|

* Deanery of Alresford

Historic offices|

* Bishop suffragan of Guildford (1874–1927; Diocese of Guildford erected)
* Bishop suffragan of Dorking (1905–1909)
* Archdeacon of Winchester (11th century–2000; renamed Bournemouth)
* Archdeacon of Surrey (12th century–1927; became Diocese of Guildford)
* Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight (1871–1927; became Diocese of Portsmouth)
* Archdeacon of Portsmouth (1925–1927; became Diocese of Portsmouth)
* Archdeacon of Basingstoke (1927–2000; renamed Winchester)

* v
* t
* e

Bishops of Truro

* Edward White Benson
* George Wilkinson
* John Gott
* Charles Stubbs
* Winfrid Burrows
* Guy Warman
* Walter Frere
* Joseph Hunkin
* Edmund Morgan
* Maurice Key
* Graham Leonard
* Peter Mumford
* Michael Ball
* Bill Ind
* Tim Thornton
* Chris Goldsmith (acting)
* Philip Mounstephen
* David Williams (announced)

* v
* t
* e

Diocese of Truro

* Truro Cathedral
* Lis Escop, Feock
* Diocesan House, Truro

Office holders|

* David Williams, Bishop-designate of Truro and Bishop suffragan of Basingstoke
* Hugh Nelson, Bishop suffragan of St Germans and Bishop to the Forces; acting diocesan bishop
* AEO: Paul Thomas, Bishop suffragan of Oswestry & Rob Munro, Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet
* Simon Robinson, Dean of Truro
* Kelly Betteridge, Archdeacon of Bodmin
* Clive Hogger, Archdeacon of Cornwall

*[m.]: married
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