Justin Welby, the archbishop of
Canterbury, has described his “complete surprise” at discovering that his biological father is not Gavin Welby – as he had always believed – but the former private secretary to Winston Churchill , Sir Anthony Montague Browne. It emerged on Friday that the archbishop’s mother, Jane Williams, had a brief relationship with Montague Browne prior to her marriage to Gavin Welby, who died as a result of alcohol abuse and smoking in 1977.
In a statement released soon after the news broke, Justin Welby said his childhood had been difficult because both Gavin and Jane were suffering from alcohol addiction at the time. But he said he was proud of his mother, who has been fighting the disease since 1968.
“Although there are elements of sadness and even tragedy in my father’s [Gavin Welby’s] case, this is a story of redemption and hope from a place of tumultuous difficulty and near-despair in several lives.
It is a testimony to the grace and power of Christ to liberate and redeem us, grace and power which is offered to every human being.”
The archbishop added: “My own experience is typical of many people. To find that one’s father is other than imagined is not unusual. To be the child of families with great difficulties in relationships, with substance abuse or other matters, is far too normal. And he said that he found who he was in his religious faith, “not in genetics”.
And he said: “As a result of my parents’ addictions, my early life was messy, although I had the blessing and gift of a wonderful education, and was cared for deeply by my grandmother, my mother once she was in recovery, and my father as far as he was able. I have had a life of great blessing and wonderful support, especially from Caroline and our children, as well as a great many wonderful friends and family.”
The Daily Telegraph reported on Friday that the archbishop had taken a paternity test in response to its research suggesting that his biological father was not Welby, but Montague Browne. The paper said that the test showed showed a 99.98% probability that the latter was his biological father. It reported that, as a result, Justin Welby had gained a half- sister, Jane, who is three years his senior. Jane Williams echoed her son’s sense of shock at the news.
“Although, as has already been made public, Gavin Welby and I had a short and, sadly, dysfunctional marriage, neither of us ever doubted that we were the parents of our son Justin, who was born almost nine months to the day after our marriage in America on April 4, 1955,” she said.
“I still recall our joy at his arrival. So this DNA evidence with which I have now been presented proving that Gavin was not Justin’s biological father, so many years after Gavin’s death, has come as an almost unbelievable shock.” She said she had felt she owed her son an explanation and said she accepted that “what would in normal circumstances be of interest only to those immediately concerned must now, because of my son’s position in public life, be given wider circulation”.
Gavin Welby, she said, was a “very strong, possessive character” who was bullying her to leave her job as personal secretary to the prime minister to run away and marry him. She said she subsequently developed an alcohol problem as the pressure of that situation – and of her job – got to her.
“I have watched Justin, from an almost impossible childhood, grow into what he is today, marry his beautiful wife Caroline in 1979, and see his children and now grandchildren grow up around them. As a family, we are truly blessed. But none of this would have been possible without our firm Christian faith and a determination never to relinquish hope. God has given us so much and my gratitude knows no bounds.”
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