Hugh Ross Williamson and his Archbishop
HUGH ROSS WILLIAMSON, the Anglican clergyman and publicist, had planned to make St. John Fisher the subject of the Rochester Cathedral play which he was asked to write for the 1954 Festival.
It will be recalled that he had previously chosen Cardinal Pole as the subject of his play for the Canterbury Festival.
Later the subject was changed to "The Fall of Man," with Robert Speaight, it was hoped. playing Satan.
Then, after Mr. Ross Williamson had deplored the Archbishop of Canterbury's attack on the Catholic Church in Convocation, and his support of "Infallible Fallacies." he was asked to suspend work.
Speaking to 114E CA'1110t IC IILRALD this week, Mr. Ross Williamson emphasised how deeply he felt the Archbishop's anti-('atholicism which, in his view, seemed to be doing a great disservice to Christianity and to be an obstacle to Reunion. But this difference of opinion had nothing whatever to do with his canonical obedience and loyalty to the Archbishop.
"As it was the Archbishop who ordained me." he said, "and as my main controversial activity is the defence of my holy orders, I need hardly emphasise the strictness of my canonical obedience to His Grace."