Acclaimed architect Desmond Williams dies at 93

The founder of Ellis Williams Architects has passed away, leaving behind a legacy of work that includes four grade two-listed churches.

Granted an OBE for his services to architecture in 1988, Desmond Williams was passionate about using architecture to bring liturgy to life. He drew inspiration from the Second Vatican Council reforms to develop churches that bypassed traditional layouts in favour of more dynamic ways of bringing congregations together.

Williams was born in 1932 and grew up in Manchester, where he attended St Bede’s School. Later,  he studied at the University of Manchester School of Architecture, alongside Donald Buttress and David Gosling.

He started his architectural practice Desmond Williams and Associates shortly after graduating in 1958, designing multiple schools including Lowton High School and Standish High School.

He became a defining figure within the UK’s Catholic Modernist movement, having designed St Augustine’s in Manchester, St Dunstan’s in Birmingham, St Michael’s in Wolverhampton, and St Mary’s in Dunstable – all of which have since become grade two-listed.

In the 1970s, he joined up with W & JB Ellis to form Ellis Williams Architects. The studio has offices in London, Manchester, Cheshire, Liverpool, and Berlin.

Williams was also a former chair of RIBA North West, president of the Manchester Society of Architects, and a RIBA design co-ordinator for forums on education and higher education.

According to his friends and family, Williams was a modest man who found joy in spending time with his family and exploring his interests in architecture, aviation, and music.

He is survived by his wife Susan and four children from his first marriage to Felicity: Dominic, Sarah, Andy, and Jez.