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Sebastian Williams

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His Grace
The Most Honourable and Most Reverend
Cardinal Dr. Sebastian Williams
Lord Archbishop of Sulthey, Primate of Erbonia, Margrave of Sulthey, Cardinal Rector of Allhallows Grenham
GNBishop.jpg
Archbishopric
RankPrimate and Cardinal Archbishop
ChurchChurch of Nortend
ProvinceSulthey
SeeSulthey
ElectedMarch 9th, 2001
EnthronedAugust 30th, 2001
PredecessorJohn Culsen
Ministry
LivingsAll Hallows’, Grenham
Residences
  • Abbotscourt, Sulthey
  • Grenham Palace, Lendert
Previous
  • Cardinal Rector of St Endrith (1995–2001)
  • Lord Bishop of Polton (1992–2001)
  • Bishop of Laveshot (1988–1992)
  • Archdeacon of Huntspot (1982–1988)
  • Rector of Racham Fuller (1973-1988)
Holy Orders
Deaconhood
DateJune 5th, 1971
PlaceCholstave College Chapel
Priesthood
DateDecember 22nd, 1973
PlaceChepingstow Minster
Ordained byArchbishop Bernard Alseer
Bishophood
DateAugust 27th, 1988
PlacePolton Cathedral
Main consecratorArchbishop Bernard Alseer
Co-consecratorsBishop Andrew Swaft; Bishop Henry Lovegrand-Otter
Cardinalhood
DateOctober 3rd, 1995
Appointed byKing Alexander II
Personal details
Birth nameJohn Martin Williams
Born (1947-01-20) 20 January 1947 (age 77)
NationalityErbonian
Alma materUniversity of Aldesey
SignatureSebastianos Sulatien
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Sebastian John Martin Williams (born Sebastian John Williams January 20, 1947) is the Xth Lord Archbishop of Sulthey and the most senior bishop of the Church of Nortend. Williams was enthroned as Archbishop on August 30, 2001, and incardinated to All Hallows’, Grenham, Lendert-with-Cadell on the next day, August 31.

Early life and education

Williams was born in Cudstow, Southannering, first and only child of Christopher Williams, Rector of St James's, Cudstow. He was baptised Sebastian John Williams on January 27th, 1947, on the festival of St. Julian. He was sent to Norsten Preparatory School at the age of 7, and then took a scholarship to Allord College at the age of 13. He was confirmed by the Lord Abbot of Allord, taking the confirmation name of Martin.

Williams matriculated at Allhallowhall as an Old Dominostrian at the University of Aldesey where he read for his Bachelor of Arts. He was ordained as a deacon in 1969 and upon receiving his licentia docendi Williams began reading for his Bachelor of Divinity, intending to go into the priesthood. He incepted as Master of Arts in 1971 and graduated as Bachelor of Divinity later that year.

Ministry

Williams was ordained a priest upon graduating with a Bachelor of Divinity in 1972 by the then Lord Archbishop of Sulthey, Cardinal Bernard Alseer, and was presented by a school friend, Sir Andrew Wegg, to the wealthy benefice of St. Saviour’s, Racham Fuller in Durmenshire, worth £630 per annum, becoming Rector thereof in 1973. Williams was appointed Archdeacon and Dean Forane for the Hundred of Huntspot in 1982, appointing a Vicar to undertake divine service at Racham Fuller with the chauntry priest for the Wegg family.

Williams’s duties as Archdeacon were comparatively light, and he busied himself in academic pursuits, eventually receiving his Doctorate of Divinity from the University of Aldesey in 1986. In 1988, he was elected, consecrated and installed as the Bishop of Laveshot, a bishopric coadjutor in the Diocese of Polton. Upon the death of Bishop Fullengar, he succeeded as Lord Bishop of Polton from 1992. He was created a cardinal in 1995, being incardinated to St Endrith in Lendert-with-Cadell as a prebend of St Giles’ Chapel.

In 2001, after the death of Cardinal John Culsen, Williams was elected as Lord Archbishop of Sulthey. He was enthroned at Sulthey Cathedral on August 30th, 2001, and incardinated to All Hallows’, Grenham.

Churchmanship

Williams has generally followed an orthodox Akeepian theology, emphasising the traditional view of the Church as a Reformed yet Catholic church. He is known for his aversion to certain devotional practices supported by the more Roman wings of the Church, especially overly Marian devotions such as rosaries and the Renaissance-era „bidding” clause of Ave Maria („Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”).

He is considered staunchly royalist and nationalist, and has spoken strongly in favour of the Church of Nortend as an Erastian state church responsible for enforcing religious morality. He has opposed uncontrolled development, and supported the Steady State Policy as necessary for the good and welfare of Nortchmen. He provoked some tensions in 2008 when he condoned the hanging of convicted serial rapist Gerard Blaker, despite the popular opinion that only treason, forstal, desecration (of a host) and murder truly justify capital punishment.

Williams has consistently attacked homosexuality and same-sex marriages which are both illegl in Great Nortend. He said in 2017 that they pose a threat to the moral compass of the world, whilst simultaneously affirming platonic same-sex relationships as being „worthy” and „valuable”, drawing a direct analogy with examples of Biblical non-romantic love. As Archbishop of Sulthey, he formed the Board of Clerical Discipline in 2005, to investigate rumours of homosexuality and breaking of oaths of celibacy amongst Church of Nortend clergymen. It was wound up in 2013, having failed to undercover any cases of homosexuality, and only several minor cases of unchastity.

He also, somewhat paradoxically, supported greater religious tolerance in Great Nortend, and tentatively supported the passage of the Prohibitions Act Amendment Act, 16 Alex. II in 2019 which reduced the restrictions placed on the practice of Mohammedanism. Williams justified this by arguing that it was better for Moslem worship to be conducted in public, where the Government and Church could oversee it, rather than hidden away in hard-to-police private dwellings and underground gatherings. Furthermore, he was conscious of the problem of honest unbelief, believing that it was possible that those who with an open mind fail to be convinced of the truth of the Gospel might nonetheless attain salvation.

Styles

  • Mr. Sebastian John Martin Williams (1947–1966)
  • The Learned Mr. Sebastian John Martin Williams (1966–1969)
  • The Reverend Deacon Mr. Sebastian John Martin Williams(1969–1981)
  • The Very Reverend Mr. Sebastian John Martin Williams, Archdeacon and Dean of Huntspot (1982–1986)
  • The Very Reverend Dr. Sebastian John Martin Williams, Archdeacon and Dean of Huntspot (1986–1988)
  • The Honourable and Right Reverend Dr. Sebastian John Martin Williams, Bishop of Laveshot (1988–1992)
  • His Lordship The Right Honourable and Right Reverend Dr. Sebastian John Martin Williams, Lord Bishop of Polton (1992–1995)
  • His Lordship The Most Honourable and Right Reverend Cardinal Dr. Sebastian John Martin Williams, Lord Bishop of Polton and Cardinal Rector of St Endrith (1995–2001)
  • His Grace The Most Honourable and Most Reverend Cardinal Doctor Sebastian John Martin Williams, Lord Archbishop of Sulthey, Lord Primate of Erbonia, Lord Count Palatine of Sulthey and Cardinal Rector of All Hallows’, Grenham (2001–present)

Williams's full formal style is :—

His Grace The Right High Right Mighty Right Noble Most Honourable and Most Reverend Father in God SEBASTIAN John Martin Williams by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Sulthey Lord Primate of Erbonia Lord Count Palatine of Sulthey Cardinal Rector of the Church of All Hallows Grenham.