Released March 12, 1999

Centre College hosts Irish peace activist on St. Patrick's Day

DANVILLE, KY -- Trevor Williams, an Anglican priest and former BBC reporter who is a peace activist in Northern Ireland, will speak at Centre College on Wednesday, March 17. His remarks will begin at 8 p.m. in Weisiger Theatre in the Norton Center for the Arts. The public is invited to attend at no cost.

Williams is the leader of the Corrymeela Community, a group of people throughout the world who are committed to reconciliation between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland. Corrymeela was founded in 1965 and received the Niwano Peace Prize in recognition of its intense work at the grassroots level.

Based at the Corrymeela House in Belfast, the group describes itself as "a dispersed community of people of all ages and Christian traditions." Using a small staff, private donations and a system of rotating volunteers, Corrymeela sponsors programs including youth retreats, family camps, summer playgrounds and community discussions. The community provides support for individual families directly affected by the violence in Northern Ireland and, overall, seeks ways to promote understanding between Protestants and Catholics.

Corrymeela was patterned after similar reconciliation communities based in Italy and Scotland.

Williams is a native of Dublin and earned a bachelor's degree from Trinity College. He completed theological training at Nottingham University and St. John's College. Williams was ordained in 1974 and served in pastoral roles in Berkshire and Belfast. From 1980-88, he also worked as reporter and producer with the BBC, specializing in religious programs and current affairs.

After five years as rector of St. John's Newcastle Church, Williams was elected leader of Corrymeela in 1993.

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