‘The grief we feel is a measure of the love we shared’: Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby thanks wellwishers for their prayers as tributes flood in for his mother following her death aged 93
- The Archbishop of Canterbury paid tribute to his mother who has died aged 93
- Lady Jane Williams passed away peacefully on Saturday morning
The Archbishop of Canterbury has thanked wellwishers for their prayers and tributes following his the death of his mother at the age of 93.
Lady Jane Williams passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, Lambeth Palace said.
The Most Rev Justin Welby said she led a ‘remarkable’ life, which included working for Winston Churchill and for Nobel Prize winner Professor Sir Ernst Chain.
Wellwishers in turn flooded in with tribute to the Archbishop’s late mother as they described her as a ‘wonderful,’ ‘kind’ and ‘extraordinary’ woman.
The Archbishop thanked those who had paid tribute as he said he and his family are ‘deeply grateful’ to for their prayers.
The Archbishop of Canterbury (pictured) paid tribute to his mother, Lady Jane Williams, who has died aged 93
The Archbishop of Canterbury thanked those who paid tribute to his mother Lady Jane Williams
‘As I mourn the loss of my mother, Lady Jane Williams, I give thanks to God for her life – and for the gift that she was to me and all our family,’ the Archbishop said.
Born in India in 1929, Lady Williams spent much of the Second World War living with her maternal uncle, Rab Butler, who was Education Secretary in the wartime cabinet.
Her first job in 1949 was working for Winston Churchill, whom she carried on working for until 1955.
She was one of the last of his personal staff and often lectured and spoke about the wartime leader later in life.
She also worked for Nobel Prize winner Professor Chain, best known for his work on penicillin, at Imperial College London.
Lady Jane Williams (pictured) died peacefully on Saturday morning (Sally Eckes/Lambeth Palace/PA)
Rory Stewart paid tribute to Lady Jane Williams who he described as a ‘kind and wonderful person’
Radio presenter and Church of England clergyman Richard Coles paid his condolences
Later in life she worked as a probation officer, for the Parole Board and as a prison visitor.
She married Lord Williams of Elvel in 1977 and they spent more than 40 ‘happy’ years together until he died in 2019.
The archbishop said she helped ‘countless others to know freedom from addiction’ after recovering from alcoholism.
Tributes poured in to Lady Jane Williams as prominent individuals including Rory Stewart and Richard Coles paid condolences.
Mr Welby said he will treasure many memories of her which are ‘full of grace, laughter and joy.’
‘It’s with profound sadness that I mourn the loss of my mother. I loved her very deeply and it has been a privilege to be her son,’ the Archbishop said.
‘I am the person I am in part because of her love, example and encouragement. Our whole family share in the loss of a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
‘We are profoundly grateful to God for the gift she has been to us all – for all we received from her, and all she has meant to us.
‘The grief we feel is a measure of the love we have shared.
The Archbishop of Canterbury (pictured) described his mother’s life as a story of ‘redemption’
The Coptic Orthodox Bishop of London paid his respect to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s mother Lady Jane Williams who he described as ‘a woman of incredible grace’
‘We will treasure the many memories we have of her: memories full of grace, laughter and joy.
‘Towards the end of her life she showed great courage, faith and hope. She knew she would soon be with God.
‘That was a source of strength for her, and for all of us, and her death was peaceful and full of hope.
‘I know that many people will be praying for me and my family at this time and we are deeply grateful.’
The archbishop said he and his family were ‘very kind’ to her.
‘My mother lived a full human life, with all its ups and downs. Her story is one of redemption – which she found through faith in Jesus Christ, and loving service to others.
‘Each step in her journey towards greater fullness of life brought me such joy.’
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