Tom Williams was born on Shrove Tuesday, 10 February 1948, in
Liverpool. He entered Junior Seminary to train for the priesthood at
Christleton Hall, Chester in 1961, before studying at the
English College in Lisbon, Portugal, from September 1966 to 1971. He completed his studies at
St Joseph's College, Up Holland. Williams was
ordained to the
priesthood on 27 May 1972, at the
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, by Archbishop
George Andrew Beck. He served at several parishes, including: St Francis of Assisi, Garston; Sacred Heart, Liverpool (where he was also Chaplain to the
Royal Liverpool Hospital); Our Lady of Walsingham, Netherton; Our Lady Immaculate, Liverpool and St Anthony's, Scotland Road, Liverpool. ==Episcopal career==