We regret to record the death of Father Edward Christopher Williams on the 20th October, 1939, at the age of 46, after a long illness very patiently borne. Father Christopher was the fifth of the six brothers of his family to be educated at Ampleforth and the third of them to join the Community - his two elder brothers, Father Illtyd and Father Raphael Williams, having preceded him. He came to the School in 1908 and left to join the Novitiate at Belmont in 1913. After three years there, he returned to Ampleforth and went up to St Benet's Hall in 1916. At Oxford he read chemistry in his final schools and gained a creditable class, although it was not a science to which his natural inclinations would have drawn him, had not the exigencies of the School staff required it of him. Father Christopher was at St Benet's Hall until 1921, and in the Oxford of the war and immediately post-war years his great gift for loyal and disinterested friendship found much scope. He had a wider and somewhat more eclectic circle of friends in the University than is, perhaps, usual among the members of St Benet's Hall, and it is an undoubted fact that his quiet and unshowy, yet rock-like, Catholicism, combined with an attractive independence of mind, was the means, under God, of showing more than one of his undergraduate friends the way to the Faith. Returning to Ampleforth, Father Christopher taught chemistry on the School staff and in 1923 was ordained priest. In 1930 he went to assist his brother, Father Illtyd, at the Junior House, formed when the Preparatory School moved to Gilling, and many who passed under his charge will recall his unfailing kindness, his skill in photography and his love of the country-side and all country things. In 1933 Father Christopher went out to the parishes and was stationed successively at Workington and St Mary's, Warrington. In 1935 his health, which had never been robust, broke down altogether and for the rest of his life he was a complete invalid - called upon to endure much suffering both in mind and body, but withal showing a most exemplary and very touching resignation to the Will of God. May his gentle and ever loyal spirit find in Heaven the rest which was denied on earth.
EDWARD CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS 20 October 1939
1893 7 Nov Born at Caerleon
1908-13 Educ Ampleforth
1913 7 Oct Habit at Belmont
1914 8 Oct Simple Vows
1916 1 May Minor Orders
1918 2 Jan Solemn Vows Ampleforth
9 May Subdiaconate
1922 25 Jul Diaconate
1923 26 May Priesthood
1917-21 Studied at Oxford & took his BA degree in Chemistry
Taught at Ampleforth
1932 Assistant at Workington
1933 Nov St Mary's Warrington
1935 Apr Invalided to Ampleforth
$$ Hospital of St John of God Stillorgen Dublin
1939 20 Oct Died in Dublin after suffering mentally & bodily
Buried in Glassnevin Cemetery Dublin