Who Is Richard Williamson (bishop)? Age, Biography and Wiki
Richard Williamson was born on March 8, 1940. In 2025, he would have been 85 years old. He is known for his controversial views as a British Catholic traditionalist bishop. Williamson was a member of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), which was founded to promote traditional Catholic teachings and practices in response to the changes following the Second Vatican Council. His views on various topics, including history and church doctrine, have sparked much debate and discussion within religious and secular communities alike.
| Occupation | Priests |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 8, 1940 |
| Age | 84 Years |
| Birth Place | London, England |
| Horoscope | Pisces |
| Country | England |
| Date of death | 29 January, 2025 |
| Died Place | Margate, England |
Popularity
Richard Williamson (bishop)'s Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Richard Williamson stood approximately 6 feet tall (182 cm) and had a weight of around 175 pounds (79 kg). Details regarding his body measurements are not widely publicized due to his focus on his clerical duties rather than personal appearance.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As a cleric, Richard Williamson took a vow of celibacy, which means he did not have a wife or girlfriend. While he maintained a personal and family life like anyone else, specific details about his family members are not typically disclosed in public records. He often emphasized his commitment to the Catholic faith and his mission as a bishop, placing church responsibilities above personal relationships.
He was the second of three sons born to John Blackburn Williamson, a manager at Marks & Spencer, and Helen Nelson, a Paris-born mother of American heritage. He attended Downsend School in Surrey before winning a scholarship to Winchester College. He then studied at Clare College, Cambridge, graduating in 1961 a degree in English literature.
Upon graduating, he worked as a journalist in Wales, and then returned to teach at his old school, Downsend in 1963. He subsequently went to Ghana, where he also taught. When he returned to England in 1965, Williamson taught at St Paul’s School in London.
Net Worth and Salary
Estimations suggest that Richard Williamson's net worth was around $1 million at the time of his passing in 2025. His earnings mostly were derived from his ecclesiastical duties, lectures, and potentially some investments. However, his exact salary within the church is difficult to quantify due to the private nature of clerical finances.
On 4 February 2009, German prosecutors announced the launch of a criminal investigation into Williamson's statements. In October 2009, a German court, using an "order of punishment" fined Williamson €12,000 after finding him guilty of Holocaust denial.
Williamson denied the charges and appealed, paving the way for a full hearing that Williamson did not need to attend. He did not attend the trial, on orders from his society, on charges of inciting racial hatred in Regensburg, Germany on 16 April 2010, and was found guilty. The court reduced the fine to €10,000.
Lawyers from both sides appealed the fine; the lawyer Williamson hired was the former leader of the Wiking-Jugend, an outlawed Neo-Nazi group. The Society of St. Pius X ordered Williamson to find a new lawyer under threat of expulsion. His appeal was held on 11 July 2011.
The lower court's decision was upheld at appeal, but the fine was reduced to €6,500, reportedly due to Williamson's financial circumstances.
On 22 February 2012 the higher court dismissed this conviction, finding that the initial charges against Williamson had been inadequately drawn, having failed to specify the nature of his offence, or at what point his filmed comments came under German jurisdiction, or in what sense he be held liable for failing to prevent their publication in Germa
ny.
On 16 January 2013, he was prosecuted and convicted again, but this time with a much-reduced fine of €1,600 because of his "unemployed state". He refused to pay the fine and appealed again, but his appeal was dismissed.
On 31 January 2019 the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Williamson’s attempt to overturn a conviction for Holocaust denial on the grounds of free speech.
Career, Business and Investments
Richard Williamson's primary career was within the Catholic Church, where he served as a bishop. His controversial statements and actions had significant implications for his career, including excommunication from the Catholic Church. He became an influential figure in the traditionalist movement, often speaking out against modern interpretations of Catholic doctrine. Williamson also engaged in writing and public speaking, which likely supplemented his income.
While there are rumors of possible investments, credible information regarding specific business ventures undertaken by Williamson is scarce. His focus remained largely on his religious vocation.
Immediately afterward, Swedish television broadcast an interview recorded earlier at the SSPX seminary in Zaitzkofen, Bavaria. Therein, Williamson expressed his belief that no more than 200,000 to 300,000 Jews were killed during the Holocaust and that Nazi Germany did not use gas chambers.
Based upon these statements, he was charged with and convicted of Holocaust denial by the district court of Regensburg, Germany.
The Holy See declared that Pope Benedict XVI had been unaware of Williamson's views when he lifted his excommunication, and that Williamson would remain suspended until he unequivocally and publicly distanced himself from his stated position.
In 2010, Williamson was convicted of incitement in a German court in relation to those views; the conviction was later vacated on appeal. He was convicted again in a retrial in early 2013. Williamson appealed again, but his appeal was rejected.
Social Network
Richard Williamson maintained a presence within traditionalist Catholic circles, often communicating with followers through various platforms, including newsletters and specialized websites. However, he did not have an extensive presence on mainstream social media due to the nature of his work and beliefs. His public engagements were generally limited to religious events and traditionalist Catholic forums.
Pope Benedict XVI lifted the excommunications of the four bishops Marcel Lefebvre had consecrated, as they had requested. The decree was signed on 21 January 2009, the same day that Williamson's interview denying the Holocaust was broadcast on Swedish television.
The decision stirred widespread outrage, particularly in Germany, where the interview was conducted and where Holocaust denial is illegal and punishable by imprisonment of up to five years.
Reaction from the State of Israel and much of the worldwide Jewish community was strongly negative, and Abraham Foxman, president of the Anti-Defamation League, wrote to Cardinal Walter Kasper in order to express his opposition to any ecclesiastic re-integration of Williamson. The Chief Rabbinate of Israel suspended contacts with the Vatican.
The Chief Rabbi of Haifa told The Jerusalem Post that he expected Williamson to retract publicly his statements before any dialogue could resume.
Education
Williamson was educated in theology and philosophy, completing his studies in preparation for his priesthood. He was ordained as a priest in 1976 and later became a bishop within the SSPX. His academic background provided him with a strong foundation for his theological views, which often drew from the traditions of pre-Vatican II Catholicism.
In conclusion, Richard Williamson’s story is a unique one intertwined with the history of the Catholic Church's traditionalist movement. His legacy, while controversial, continues to resonate with many within certain Catholic communities.
