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The Church of St. William had its beginning as a mission of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Frayser. In the Fall of 1949, Mass was celebrated in Millington in the Strand Theatre for about 35 people. This beginning was in answer to the needs of the Navy and Marine personnel living off the base and for the people in the city of Millington. The following year land was purchased and in 1951 a wood frame church was completed behind the site of the present church.
Owing to the needs of a growing Catholic population, a four room school was completed in 1953 and opened that September with 160 young students. Adjoining land was bought. Rapid expansion continued in 1954 with construction beginning on the present brick church, an addition to the school and the building of a convent for the teaching Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. It was at that time that St. William was established as a parish church with its own resident diocesan pastor. February 22, 1955 heralded the dedication of the completed church building. Once again, in 1957, another addition was made to the school, completing the structure as it is today.
Sadly in 1970, personal and financial difficulties forced the closing of the young parish school. What was to mark 20 years of faithful service began in 1969, when the Bishop tranferred the pastoral care of St. William Church to the Missionary Congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The return of the diocesan priest as parish pastor came in 1989. While time and circumstances have changed in many, many ways, the Church of St. William continues to grow and serve both the military and civilian communities of greater Millington and southern Tipton County in the spirit of the original faith that took root here in 1949.