The Revd Dr
Thomas Williams

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Welcome!

As a new(ish) priest, I realized that in addition to my academic website, I should have a site that focuses on my life in the Church.

The Basics

I am canonically resident in the Diocese of Iowa but physically resident (and licensed) in the Diocese of Southwest Florida. I am Professor and Chair of Religious Studies and Professor of Philosophy at the University of South Florida, and I serve as a non-stipendiary assisting priest at Saint Mark's Episcopal Church in Tampa.

My academic speciality is medieval Christian thought. My published work has focused especially on Saint Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) and John Duns Scotus (1265/66-1308).

What You Should Know

I have been a church musician of sorts for many years -- I was a pretty good pianist (though I'm somewhat out of practice now) and a just-passable organist (ditto). I am an enthusiastic and reasonably competent singer, a baritone. My ideal liturgy would be sung from start to finish. I love the Anglican choral tradition, Anglican chant, traditional hymns, and choral Evensong.

I don't think the priest's job is impose his or her own liturgical tastes on a congregation -- though it is the priest's job to see to it that worship of whatever style is done with excellence and integrity, in conformity with the rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer. But if I had free rein, I'd use Rite One as often as I could get away with it, face East for the Eucharistic Prayer, and send up clouds of incense at every opportunity.

Events

April 22, 5 pm: Choral Evensong, Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Petersburg

Links

I am canonically resident in the Diocese of Iowa.

I serve at Saint Mark's Episcopal Church, Tampa, in the Diocese of Southwest Florida.

I graduated from Evangelical Christian School in Memphis in 1984.

I received my B.A. in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University in 1988 and my Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame in 1994.