1921
Hopewell Presbytery - September 27, 1921 - Pleasant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church - near Humboldt, Gibson County, Tennessee
Claude C. Williams of the Meridian congregation - Became a Candidate of Hopewell Presbytery
"Upon the request of the Moderator the Stated Clerk extended the invitation and the call for persons to converse with the Presbytery in regard to an internal call to preach, or that might desire to converse with the Presbytery in reference to their call to the ministry, and the following brethren came forward: Finis H. Ezell, of Pilgrims' Rest; S. C. Gardner, of Hopewell; Robert Peel Keathly, of McKenzie; Acie Lee Maynard, of Pilgrims' Rest; W. D. Marlar, of Hopewell; Claude C. Williams, of Meridian; Jessie Lee Williams, of Meridian; H. V. Walls, of Foster Chapel (Little Rock Burrow Presbytery); Clark M. Young, of McKenzie."

"All of the above-named young men related their experience in a brief inquisition conducted by Rev. S. H. Braly, D.D., and were all enrolled as probationers for the ministry, and the Committee on Literature and Theology was ordered to direct them in their course of preparation and assign texts from which they are to write a discourse to be read at the next meeting of Presbytery."

"Report of the Committee on Literature and Theology
That the following texts be assigned the candidates...Claude C. Williams, Rom. 13:1..."

"Directory - Candidates - Claude C. Williams - McKenzie, Tennessee"
[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, September 27-28, 1921, pages 5, 9 & 19]

1922
Hopewell Presbytery - March 24, 1922 - Trezevant, Tennessee
Claude C. Williams - Licensed by Hopewell Presbytery

"Candidate present - Claude C. Williams"

"The candidates for the ministry read discourses before the Presbytery as follows: ... Claude C. Williams, Rom. 8:1 ..."

"The Presbytery licensed Candidates W. C. Bryant, Robert P. Keathley, D. W. Perry, W. O. Parr and Claude C. Williams to preach as licensed preachers under the care of this Presbytery. Rev. P. F. Johnson, D.D., conducted the licensure. On motion, their names were enrolled as licentiates."

"Report of the Committee on Literature and Theology
We have had before us Licentiates O. A. Gardner, E. B. Rucker, and Candidates W. C. Bryant, Finis H. Ezell, Robert P. Keathley, Acie Lee Maynard, Claude C. Williams, Jessie Lee Williams, Clark M. Young, W. D. Marlar, W. O. Parr, S. C. Gardner, W. D. Perry. All of these were carefully examined in the prescribed course. The class as a whole shows progress, and most all are now in school. Therefore, we recommend: ...

2. That Candidates D. W. Perry, Claude Williams, Robert P. Keathley, W. C. Bryant and W. O. Parr be licensed to preach in the bounds of this Presbytery, Rev. P. F. Johnson to conduct the licensure."

"Presbyterial Directory - Licentiates - Claude C. Williams - McKenzie, Tennessee"

[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, March 23-24, 1922, pages 8, 10, 12, 17 & 32]

1922
Hopewell Presbytery - September 28-29, 1922 - Pilgrim's Rest Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Carroll County, Tennessee
"Roll call - Licentiate present - Claude C. Williams"

"Report of Committee on Literature and Theology
We have had before us Licentiates R. P. Keathley, D. W. Perry, Miss Hallie White, Claude C. Williams, E. B. Rucker; Candidates Finis H. Ezell, S. C. Gardner, Jessie Lee Williams, Louis Mann, Acie Lee Maynard. All of the above were carefully examined in the prescribed course. Most all of them are now in school. We commend them for same, and some of them for their rapid progress in their school work, and earnestly insist that each one make the best use of their time in school, while they are young and able to grasp the subjects."

"Presbyterial Directory - Licentiate - Claude C. Williams - McKenzie, Tennessee"

[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, September 28-29, 1922, pages 3, 18 & 28]

1923
Hopewell Presbytery - March 22-23, 1923 - Bradford, Tennessee
"Roll - Licentiate present - Claude C. Williams"

"A communication from the Pleasant Green congregation regarding the ordination of Licentiate C. C. Williams was referred to the Committee on Literature and Theology."

"Devotional Service. Prayer by Licentiate C. C. Williams."

"Report of the Committee on Literature and Theology
We have had before us Licentiates Robert P. Keathley, D. W. Perry, Claude C. Williams. Candidates Finis H. Ezell, S. C. Gardner, G. K. Smith and R. W. Somers appeared on the second day.
All of the above named were examined in the prescribed course and find that all have made progress in their preparation. We commend them for same.
3. The request from Pleasant Green has been considered in regard to the ordination of Brother Williams, but your committee insists on the Pleasant Green congregation being patient, as your committee are of the opinion it is not best and just to Brother Williams, and that the request be not granted.
R. H. Jackson, L. R. Johns, and B. J. Reagin."

"Report of the Committee on Pastorates and Supplies
2. Pleasant Green Church calls for the services of Licentiate C. C. Williams for the first Sunday in each month from October, 1922, to September, 1923, at a salary of $125.00.
We recommend that the above contracts be ratified."

"Presbyterial Directory - Licentiate - Claude C. Williams - McKenzie, Tennessee"

[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, March 22-23, 1923, pages 3, 5, 8, 17, 18 & 25]

1923
Hopewell Presbytery - October 5, 1923 - Oak Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Henry County, Tennessee

"Roll Call - Licentiate present - Claude C. Williams."

"Rev. J. D. Allison and Licentiate Claude C. Williams were granted letters of dismission and recommendation, at their own requests"

"Report of the Committee on Literature and Theology
We have had before us Licentiates W. C. Bryant, S. C. Gardner, D. W. Perry, Claude C. Williams and Candidates R. E. McIlwain and Fred Parker.
All of the above-named were examined on the prescribed course, and we find that all have made progress in their preparation."

[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, October 4-5, 1923, pages 4 & 9 & 10]

1925
Claude C. Williams - Auburntown, Tennessee
Licentiate - Presbytery of Nashville
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., 1925, Part I, pages 539 & 1109]

1926
Claude C. Williams - Auburntown, Tennessee
Licentiate - Presbytery of Nashville
Stated Supply - Liberty Hill Presbyterian Church, Alexandria, Tennessee
Stated Supply - Auburn Presbyterian Church - Auburntown, Tennessee
Stated Supply - Lascassas Presbyterian Church - Lascassas, Tennessee
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. 1926, Part I, pages 539, 860, 861, &1109]

1927
Claude C. Williams - R. F. D., Lebanon, Tennessee
Licentiate - Presbytery of Nashville
Stated Supply - Liberty Hill Presbyterian Church, Alexandria, Tennessee
Stated Supply - Auburn Presbyterian Church - Auburntown, Tennessee
Stated Supply - Lascassas Presbyterian Church - Lascassas, Tennessee
Stated Supply - Bellwood Presbyterian Church - R.F.D., Lebanon, Tennessee
Stated Supply - Rome Presbyterian Church - R.F.D., Lebanon, Tennessee
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. 1927, Part I, pages 538, 860, 861 & 1107]

1928
Claude C. Williams - Lebanon, Tennessee
Stated Supply - Liberty Hill Presbyterian Church, Alexandria, Tennessee
Stated Supply - Auburn Presbyterian Church, Auburntown, Tennessee
Stated Supply - Bellwood Presbyterian Church - R.F.D., Lebanon, Tennessee
Stated Supply - Rome Presbyterian Church - R.F.D., Lebanon, Tennessee
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. 1928, Part I, pages 857, 858 & 1102]

1929
Claude C. Williams - Lebanon, Tennessee [page 1089]
Claude Williams - Watertown, Tennessee [page 539]
Presbytery of Nashville - Licentiate
Stated Supply - Liberty Hill Presbyterian Church, Alexandria, Tennessee
Stated Supply - Auburn Presbyterian Church, Auburntown, Tennessee
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. 1929, Part I, pages 539, 857 & 1089]

1930
Claude C. Williams - Watertown, Tennessee
Licentiate - Presbytery of Nashville
Stated Supply - Liberty Hill Presbyterian Church, Alexandria, Tennessee
Stated Supply - Auburn Presbyterian Church, Auburntown, Tennessee
Stated Supply - Bellwood Presbyterian Church - R.F.D., Lebanon, Tennessee
Stated Supply - Rome Presbyterian Church - R.F.D., Lebanon, Tennessee
Stated Supply - Watertown Presbyterian Church - Watertown, Tennessee
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. 1930, Part I, pages 538, 857, 858 & 1090]

1931
Claude C. Williams - Paris, Arkansas
Presbytery of Fort Smith
Pastor - Paris Presbyterian Church, Paris, Arkansas
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. 1931, Part I, pages 377, 576 & 1080]

1932
Claude C. Williams - Paris, Arkansas
Presbytery of Fort Smith
Pastor - Paris Presbyterian Church, Paris, Arkansas
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. 1931, Part I, pages 477, 676 & 1181]

The Rev. Claude Clossee Williams, a Presbyterian clergyman whose work in race relations and civil rights in both the North and the South spanned half a century, died at the Veterans Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., on June 29. He was 84 years old.

Mr. Williams had willed his body for scientific research and there was no funeral. A memorial service will be held on Aug. 4 at Oakmont State Park, 15 miles south of Birmingham.

His wife, Joyce, who was his co-worker for 55 years, died in 1976.

Mr. Williams was the son of a West Tennessee tenant farmer whose family had long been a member of the conservative Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which at that time preached the belief that every word in the Bible is literally true. He attended the church's seminary at Bethel College in Tennessee where he became one of the denomination's most accomplished preachers.

He was influenced by Dr. Alva Taylor, a socialist, whose concept of the "social gospel" helped him formulate his stand against the chasms between the rich and the poor and the treatment accorded blacks.

He studied Marxism and developed a close relationship with the Communist Party that he maintained for the rest of his life.

Mr. Williams interpreted the Bible as a story of the struggle of the oppressed by the oppressors. In a letter to President Truman, he maintained that he should be registered with the Federal authorities as "a colonist of the Kingdom of Heaven."

In the depression days of the early 1930's, he was expelled from churches in Auburntown, Tenn., and Paris, Ark., because of his preaching.

Mr. Williams founded the People's Institute of Applied Religion. Through that group he and his wife helped to organized farmers in the Southern Tenant Farmers Union and worked with new unions in the Congress of Industrial Organizations in the 1930's. He was also associated with Commonwealth College, a labor-oriented school started by utopian socialists. He was imprisoned a number of times.

In the wake of the race riots in Detroit in the 1940's he worked to build unity among blacks and whites.

In 1942 Mr. Williams was invited by Presbyterian churches to establish a "labor ministry" among black and white automobile workers to counter the antiblack preachings of some other religious leaders.

Expelled again in 1945, he stayed in Detroit to work for his institute. In 1954, a presbytery commission found Mr. Williams, then 58, guilty of heresy, preaching doctrines not in conformity with the faith and failing to report his activities and make annual accountings. He was unfrocked.

In the 1950's and 1960's he was active in the civil rights movement.

In recent years, Mr. Williams lived in a trailer in rural Alabaster, Ala., and worked to organize protests against alleged police brutality and help black farmers to hold on to their land.

[Source: The New York Times Biographical Service, July, 1979, pages 1005-1006]

Three editions of his biography of Claude C.Williams:

Belfrage, Cedric. Let My People Go. London: V. Gollancz Ltd., 1940.

Belfrage, Cedric. South of God. New York: Modern Age Books, 1941.

Belfrage, Cedric. A Faith to Free the People: An Answer to Religion's Fifth Column. People's Institute of Applied Religion, Inc., 1946. [1 copy in archives]