David Williams (bishop of Basingstoke)

Williams was born on 16 April 1961 in Reading, England,[3] and spend his childhood in Uganda.[2] He studied social policy at the University of Bristol, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree.[1]

After university, he spent a number of years working in Kenya with the Church Mission Society. Along with his missionary work, he was deputy head of a secondary school in eastern Kenya.[2] He returned to the UK to study for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.[1]

Williams began his ordained ministry as a curate at All Saints Church, Ecclesall, in the Diocese of Sheffield from 1989 to 1992. He was then vicar of Christ Church, Dore, before being appointed Rural Dean of Ecclesall in 1997. In 2002, he became the vicar of Christ Church, Winchester.[1] During his time at Christ Church, he also served the wider community: he set up the city's street pastors project, and made visits to Winchester Prison, to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital and to the University of Winchester.[4][5] In 2012, he was appointed an honorary canon of Winchester Cathedral.[1]

He was elected to the General Synod, the governing body of the Church of England, in 2010. As a priest, he joined the House of Clergy. In 2012, he was appointed Chair of the House of Clergy of the Winchester diocesan synod.[1] He stood down from these appointments upon becoming a bishop.

In 1986, Williams married Helen Pacey.[9] They have one daughter and one son, Sarah and Mark.[1]