Background
Williams was the son of a Welsh Chancery barrister who spent much of his time in London.
Williams was the son of a Welsh Chancery barrister who spent much of his time in London.
He was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Oxford, where as an undergraduate he gained the Latin verse prize and thus came to the notice of John Keble.
A prolific writer, Williams wrote poetry and prose including the well known Tract: "On Reserve in Communicating Religious Knowledge". In 1829 he was ordained as curate of Windrush, a Gloucestershire village not far from John Keble"s home at Fairford. In spite of a poor degree he was elected as a fellow and tutor at his Oxford college.
In 1841, he was suggested as John Keble"s successor as the Professor of Poetry at Oxford.
Due to the furore raised by Newman"s Tract XC, and Williams" association with the Oxford Movement, the election became a referendum on Tractarianism, the beliefs and writings of the Movement. The controversy created became so heated that Williams withdrew his name and James Garbett was given the position.
In 1846 he became seriously ill and, although he recovered, he was left practically incapacitated and unable to continue active work in the parish. He lived there until his death in 1865.
He then returned to Oxford to assist John Henry Newman, a leading member of the Tractarians, as his curate at Street Mary"s Church, Oxford.