Harold Ivory Williams

Bishop Harold Ivory Williams (April 20, 1921 – July 4, 2014) was the senior prelate of the Mt. Calvary Holy Church of America Inc. from 1972 - 2009. Under his leadership, the organization grew to include churches in over fifteen states and many foreign countries throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Just weeks before his death, Bishop Johnson appointed Bishop Harold Ivory Williams to serve as his successor in 1972. He was married to gospel icon Pastor Shirley Caesar Williams and the father of jazz musician Harold Ivory Williams and Gospel Aerobics creator Hope Mason. He died on July 4, 2014.

Bishop Harold Ivory Williams, D. Min. Presiding Prelate of the Mt. Calvary Holy Churches of America, Inc. 1972 - 2009

Bishop Harold I. Williams was born April 20, 1921 in Benton, Maryland and attended the public schools of Baltimore, Maryland including the Frederick Douglas High School. He holds a BA Degree from Coppin State College, also in Baltimore, Maryland; a Master of Divinity, and a Doctorate of Ministry Degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C.. Bishop Williams has also done post-graduate studies at the St. MaryÕs Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland.

Bishop Williams has been instrumental in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to hungry souls. He joined the Mt. Calvary Holy Church at the age of 16. In 1949, Bishop Williams pastored his first church in Washington D.C., Mt. Calvary Holy Church #1 which later merged with the Christ is the Answer Church pastored by Rev. Alfred Owens to become one of the nations fastest growing churches - Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church. The church is still pastored by the Bishop Alfred Owens and, along with being a viable part of its community with over 4000 members, is also the national headquarters for the national organization of the Mt. Calvary Holy Churches of America, Inc.. In 1958, he co-founded the Mount Calvary Holy Temple in Baltimore, Maryland with his mother, Rev. Ethel Williams, and his late companion, Dr. Amanda Williams. That church is now pastored by Bishop Hansel Henry and includes the Baltimore Christian Academy and Educational Institution.

In 1972, Bishop H. I. Williams was appointed the Sr. Bishop and Overseer of the Mount Calvary Holy Churches of America, Inc., which has grown to over 60 churches in the United States and abroad since 1948.

Bishop Harold Williams has been a member of many organizations including the Minister Conference of Baltimore and Vicinity; the Baltimore Clergy In Action; the Pastor's Conference; the Pentecostal Ministers Alliance; and the Bishop's Council International just to name a few. He has also served on various other religious and civic organizations. Currently, he is a member of the Executive Council of the International Congress of Local Churches, founded by the Bishop Donald Meares along with his other numerous responsibilities and busy schedule.

His travels are far and extensive and include most of the United States, England, Spain, Rome, Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and Jerusalem. In 1969, Bishop Williams was chosen to lead a delegation to Barbados, West Indies and has continued to do so since its inception.

He and his late companion, Dr. Amanda Williams, were married for 35 years before her death, and were the parents of two children, Harold I. Williams, Jr., and Hope Ivey Mason. He also has two grandchildren.

Bishop Harold Williams now serves as the pastor of the Mount Calvary Holy Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where his wife, Pastor Shirley Caesar Williams, was his Co-Pastor for seven years. His wife now serves as the pastor of the Mount Calvary Word of Faith Holy church in Raleigh, North Carolina where she is preparing to build a church that will seat 1,500 people including offices, classrooms and a nursery.

Bishop Harold Ivory Williams is a dynamic speaker who adds RHEMA to the word. With his scholarly intellect and wisdom, he is known to have a knack for bringing the Word to a level that is easier for the Saints of God to understand. Because of this unique ability Bishop Williams is a widely sought after speaker to minister at churches, conferences, and convocations across the United States and abroady cju.