Main content

Rowan Williams

Sue Lawley's castaway is Archbishop of Cantebury elect Rowan Williams.

Rowan Williams grew up in Swansea and Cardiff. He enjoyed reading, being outdoors and acting in school plays. He remembers attending church every day in Holy week, getting involved cleaning out the store rooms and making a bonfire of the rubbish. In his later teenage years he was inspired by the excellent choir, youth activities and Canon Eddie Hughes, vicar of All Saints, Oystermouth. Rowan went to Cambridge to study theology and for a time he was torn between Roman Catholicism and Anglicanism. He decided on the latter and soon after, when he was 28 years old, he was ordained as a priest. He spent the next few years lecturing and working with students and the local community. He became professor of Divinity at Oxford University.

He left academic work to take up the post of Bishop of Monmouth in 1991 and in 1999 he was elected Archbishop of Wales. Rowan was officially confirmed on 2nd December as the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury. He is also a philosopher, a poet, and a linguist who speaks seven languages. He has written a number of books on the history of theology and spirituality and published collections of articles and sermons as well as two books of poetry.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Opening of Solo Cello Suite 1 in G Major by Johann Sebastian Bach
Book: Collection of poems by W H Auden
Luxury: A piano

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 27 Dec 2002 09:00
麻豆社 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Sinead Cusack

Next

Patricia Cornwell

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Five Variants on Dives & Lazarus - 1st Variant

    Orchestra: The Academy of St Martin in the Fields

    • Vaughan Williams Asmif/Marriner.
    • Argo.

  • James Hughes

    Calon Lan (Guilesless Heart)

    Choir: 5000 Voices at the Royal Albert Hall

    • A Nation Sings - 5000 Voices at the Royal Albert Hall.
    • Decca.

  • The Incredible String Band

    The Hedgehog's Song

    • The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion.
    • Elektra.

  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Ave maris stella (from Vespers 1610)

    Orchestra: The London Bach Orchestra & Louis Halsey Singers

    • Monteverdi's Vespers.
    • 麻豆社.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Johann Sebastian Bach

      Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G major - 1st movement

      Soloist: Yuli Turovsky

      • Bach: Six Suites for Solo Cello.
      • Chandos.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    The Magic Flute Act 1, Finale

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra & Choir Conductor: Otto Klempener

    • Die Zauberflote.
    • EMI.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata for the Third Day of Christmas

    Soloist: Michael Goerge & Catherine Bott Orchestra: New London Consort Conductor: Philip Pickett

    • Bach's Christmas Oratorio.
    • Decca.

  • Alexander Dmitriyevich Kastalsky

    Compline Isiah's prophecy, Znamemy Chant

    Choir: Choir of Russian Cathedral in London

    • Christmas Vigil - Russian Orthodox Church Music Volume 10.
    • Ikon.

  • Book Choice

    • Collection of poems - W H Auden

  • Luxury Choice

    • A piano

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Rowan Williams

Broadcasts

  • Sun 22 Dec 2002 11:15
    麻豆社 Radio 4
  • Fri 27 Dec 2002 09:00
    麻豆社 Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast