Crosslinks In Depth June 2008

Keeping the faith: CAB Williams

by Bishop Ken Clarke.

In all of our lives there are people who we will never forget. For me, one of those people is Cecil Williams. In 2007 Cecil Williams was called home to be with the God he loved and served so faithfully. It is extraordinary that this Church of Ireland Rector, who never held any office or title in the church he loved, had such an impact on the lives of so many people, not least ordinands, clergy, leaders and missionaries. Were there secrets as to why this man and his ministry had such a significant, defining and lasting impact?

The priority and constancy of prayer in his life was one of the reasons he was so used by God. Everyone who knew CAB Williams knew him as a man of prayer. His public prayers were marked by passion, sincerity and thanksgiving. He prayed as a man who believed in his God, who knew his God, and who was convinced that prayer makes a difference. His prayers were frequent and for a great number of people. I am one of those for whom he prayed regularly and I am profoundly thankful to God that Cecil remembered me constantly in his prayers.  

"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."  
2 Timothy 2:1

Unashamedly Cecil was a Gospel man. He loved, lived, guarded and proclaimed the Gospel. He preached it in season and out of season. He preached a biblical Gospel even when it was neither fashionable nor popular to do so. His ministry was not always surrounded with what is, in the minds of some, associated with "successful ministry": St. Luke's in The Coome, Dublin, closed not long after he left. In Crinken, where he served his last incumbency, the numbers were so small that there was a question mark over the future of the church.

However, with prayerful and faithful patience he served. He preached, visited, prayed, and when he retired he left a core of committed godly people. He was strong on grace and truth and he sought to open the hearts and minds of those he served to the whole counsel of God. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ was at the centre of his theology, ministry and life. Like the apostle Paul he longed that others came  to an understanding and experience of Christ's grace and became strong in it.

"Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness..."
2 Timothy 3:10

In 1967, when I arrived as a new student in Trinity College, Dublin,  I quickly discovered that particular city churches of different denominations had a special ministry to students. St. Luke's Church of Ireland was one of them. Cecil was the Rector and each Sunday night The Rectory was open house. Students were welcomed after the evening service to a time of relaxation, fellowship and encouragement. Many new friendships were forged there: many of those who attended were ordinands. Sometimes there was a guest speaker, but always the evening concluded with CAB standing in front of the fireplace, reading the Evening Daily Light page for the day. On not a few occasions, this small man rose on his tiptoes with excitement as another of the truths of Scripture gripped him and warmed his heart. He sought to live by and live out what he read and taught.

At that time his first wife was confined to a wheelchair. The way Cecil cared for her was one of the most powerful sermons we ever heard him preach. Isn't this what St Paul was saying to the young Timothy? "I taught you, not just with my words but in my life, my patience, my love…." Household chores were not chores but expressions of his faith and love. He washed the clothes and the dishes, cleaned the house, baked and gardened. Selflessly he loved and supported his wife. This demonstration of Christian love and care, this model of a loving husband, made a profound impression on young students, who quickly saw through pretence and equally quickly admired authenticity. The steadfastness, love and Christ-like qualities which the young Timothy saw in the apostle Paul were seen by many of us in Cecil's life, marriage and ministry.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 
2 Timothy 4:7

These words of Paul are multi-directional. They look backwards, forwards and around. They speak of the past and they look to the future when the Lord, the righteous Judge and King, will give another crown. Cecil lived with this acute appreciation of how God has worked in the past: he had a particular interest in ministry among the Jewish people. He never moved away from a sense of wonder and gratitude at what Christ accomplished in the Cross and resurrection, and he spoke often of the Second Coming. He could never get over Christ's love for him; indeed the last time I saw him, just a short time before he died, he said, "Why does the Lord love an old fella like me?"

During his time in Crinken he married Gwen Kerr, who had served for many years as a missionary in Africa. They enjoyed 27 years of marriage together and were examples of a Barnabas-like ministry of encouragement. In 1981 he retired as a Rector in parish ministry in the Church of Ireland, a church to which and in which he was utterly loyal throughout his life. He continued to grow in the faith for another 26 years. At 80 he learned computer skills and used these in Bible translation work. At 90, his faith was strong and infectious. He never gave up, he never stopped praying, he kept living by faith, and he continued growing in faith. He had the finishing line in his sights.

I believe the marks of his life, faith and character weave together to give an understanding of the secrets of the impact of his ministry. They also sustained him for the long haul. They were part of a true apostolic succession of Gospel truths and traits. Thank God for heroes of the faith like Cecil Williams who inspire us to fight the good fight, keep the faith and finish the race!

Cecil Williams was married to Gwen Kerr, a former Crosslinks mission partner in Kenya; father of John Williams, who spent time working at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre  in Tanzania; father of Peter Williams, tutor at Trinity Colleage Bristol and member of various Partnership for World Mission panels; and grandfather of Julia Williams who served short term in India as a dentist.

Some reflections on Cecil's life                                     

Who am I praying for constantly and consistently? Do I pray for those whom God has called to be leaders?

Is my life worth imitating -  or is it lacking in integrity, authenticity and Christ-likeness?

How is the race going for me? Am I running, dragging my feet, looking back, lying on the track or focussed on the finishing line and reaching for His best, giving my utmost for His highest?