James William Williams was born at Overton, Hampshire in 1825, the son of a rector. He was ordained a priest in 1853 and came to Canada in 1857 opening a boarding school in Lennoxville. His school had 150 boys in 1863 when Rev Williams was elected Bishop. James Williams was not a frequent public but very effective when he did speak. His sermon at the Synod to elect a bishop was a factor in his being chosen Bishop.
The diocese was 600 miles long and the bishop was assiduous in visiting even the most remote regions. The population was mostly Roman Catholic with Anglicans widely distributed. One of the Bishop’s accomplishments was to put each of the parishes on a sound financial footing.
Bishop Williams died unexpectedly on 20 April 1892 in Quebec city. He had been bishop for almost 30 years.