The next
family to be introduced to the St Patrick’s congregation is the Williams
family. We are very familiar with David Williams travelling up from Fort
Beaufort to take the third Sunday service of the month at St Patrick’s. We are
acquainted with his oft-made comments about fixing his car, the reason why he’s
wearing that particular tie, especially the Welsh one, and about Gill’s disapproval
of something he’s done. The congregation appreciates his conscientious
preparation and his compelling presentation. He normally brings with him an
item to illustrate his children’s message which is much enjoyed. His sermons
are always clearly explained and backed with sound theological thinking as one
would expect of a Professor of Theology. David certainly enriches St Patrick’s
in a deep way. His past sermons can be sourced on the St Patrick’s Blogpage –
they make for informative reading.
David and
Gill grew up in England. David's father was in the permanent airforce and so he
moved around whereas Gill lived in Bath. David read engineering at Cambridge
University with particular reference to aircraft. He worked for the Royal
Aircraft Establishment before going to Bath University to do a Diploma in Education
and, by correspondence, a Diploma in Theology. Gill did a Certificate in Education
at Salisbury College as part of Bristol University. She taught before going to the
London Bible College where she acquired a Dip LBC and a Diploma in Theology.
After a Wycliffe Linguistics course, they were married in 1970. They spent
a spell of working as assistants at their church in Bath and working mornings
at the City of Bath Boys’ School to support themselves. In July 1971 they moved to Swaziland with the
Africa Evangelical Fellowship. They taught at the Mankayane High School, one of
only two Swazi schools that were teaching to Matric level. Their son, Paul, was
born in Swaziland.
The mission
transferred them to Durban where they did hospital visitation and supported the
Africa Evangelical Fellowship churches. That was where David began his ministry
to schools. They had a sabbatical in the UK where David went to the London
Bible College to complete his Bachelor of Divinity and their daughter, Ruth,
was born in the UK. Back in Durban they opened a ministry which became the
Umhlanga Baptist Church, as a daughter of Durban North Baptist Church where
they put their children into Sunday School. At this stage, Luke and then, Sara,
were born. They also started planning to open a degree-level Bible College
which has become the Bible Seminary in Pietermaritzburg.
Because of
the rioting it became impossible to continue working in the townships. While
they were praying about their future, Sandown Union Church contacted them and
they moved to Sandton for David to become the minister of that church. He
contacted UNISA and started on his doctorate as well as continuing to take
school assemblies, this time in Alexandria. Gill also started studying with
UNISA to obtain a Bachelor of Theology.
David was
taken seriously ill with a heart problem and after being hospitalised twice they
were advised to leave the high veldt. David was unable to fly so they could not
go home to England. They had no idea how they could get off the high veldt.
Once again God worked and they had a very unexpected call asking David if he
would be interested in a post lecturing Theology at Fort Hare University. They
had to look for a map as they had no idea where Fort Hare was! In 1983 they
moved to the Eastern Cape. David started visiting High Schools for assemblies
in this area.
After the
children were all at school Gill was offered a post teaching music at the Fort
Beaufort High School but when her qualifications were evaluated she was told
she was totally unqualified! She therefore stopped teaching and helped for a
short while at the Baptist Bible Institute, Debi Nek.
Gill then went to Fort Hare University for a year and
upgraded her qualifications by taking a Bachelor of Education Honours degree!
Following that she decided to take a Master’s degree in education and also
started to teach at Davidson School in Alice where she later became Deputy Head
and then Principal. Gill was also a leader in Brownies and then Girl Guides as
well as Sunday School and later Bible Class for teenagers. She was involved
with the Christian movements in Fort Beaufort School, Winterberg and Wings
Academy. She also ran a ladies Bible Study group and started a feeding scheme
for children in the Fort Beaufort Township which, after 14 years, was taken over
by the government social services.
After Gill and David retired he was asked to be the
temporary minister of St John's United Church in Fort Beaufort. Temporary has
stretched to 8 years so far!
We thank Gill for this profile of her family, we are
grateful for the considerable way St Patrick’s is enriched by David’s preaching
– perhaps Gill will play the piano on occasions - and we express our deepest
condolences to the family on the premature passing of their son, Luke. How
wonderful that the Williams family has crossed our paths.
