Harry A. Williams beyond Soundings: finding God through self-awareness and doubt

Thesis

This thesis examines the life and work of Harry Abbot Williams, CR (1919-2006), an Anglican priest and theologian, who was one of the most well-known Church of England clergymen of his time, exerting an influence well beyond the Church. His life was marked by a deep struggle of conflicting claims and tensions and his writings are infused with a profound psychological sense lending to them a compelling impact.

As a homosexual priest initially suppressing his sexual orientation, Williams suffered a mental breakdown which triggered feelings of profound guilt, disapproval and mental paralysis. This experience was for him pivotal; his public admission of homosexuality in his autobiography published in 1982 was one of the first examples of a prominent Anglican clergyman coming out.

There is at present no monograph or critical study of the life and work of Williams, although he was frequently seen as one of the most popular, attractive and persuasive writers on personal religion in contemporary England. The thesis thus aims at an original contribution bridging a gap in an under-researched chapter of the history of 20th century Anglican theology.

The main argument of the thesis is that in a situation where, until the 1960s, academic discourse especially in theology was frequently dominated by an underlying conservatism, Williams and his contemporaries played a central role in defining the radical movement in the Church of England. They contributed significantly to the cultural revolution experienced in 1960s Britain: in the field of Anglican theology, a radically alternative framework for understanding Christianity and the contemporary world was being established, which refused to equate Christianity with conventional respectability.

Authors: Krejčí, KT

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-r1jxgvjqe
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: Harry A. Williams CR (1919-2006); 20th century Anglican theology
• Subjects: Anglican theology