BISHOP OF WAIAPU.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 241, 11 October 1929, Page 8

BISHOP OF WAIAPU.

ARCHDEACON WILLIAMS. FAMILY'S UNIQUE RECORD. ! THIRD MEMBER TO HOLD OFFICE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NAPIER, Thursday. The Venerable Archdeacon Herbert Williams was to-night uniinimously elected by a special synod of the Waiapit Dioce~e as bishop to succeed Bishop Sedgwick, whose resignation takes place on December 31. Archdeacon Williams is the third member of his family to hold the bishopric of Waiapu. His grandfather, the Right Rev. William Williams, was the first Bishop of Waiapu and held office until he died in 187(i. The archdeacon's father, the Right Rev. William Leonard Williams, was Bishop of Waiapu from 1594, following Bishop Stuart, until his death. It is a happy circumstance that his son should also be chosen to fill the same post, thus completing three generations of episcopal duty—surely a unique record for any family. The three bishops were all Maori scholars and all in turn laboured at the work of Maori lexicography. Archdeacon Williams was born in 1800 and was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch, Canterbury College, and Jesus College, Cambridge. He graduated B.A. (Cantab.) in 1884 and M.A. in ISS7. He was ordained priest in 1887 and was vice-principal of the Native Theological College, Gisborne, from 188S to 1894. For the next five years Archdeacon Williams was principal of the college. In 1007 he was appointed archdeacon, of Waiapu, with headquarters at Gisbovne. He married in ISBS.