David Smith (bishop)

David James Smith (14 July 1935 – 28 January 2024) was an English Anglican clergyman who was Bishop of Bradford from 1992 to 2002.

The Right Reverend David Smith
Bishop of Bradford
Diocese	Diocese of Bradford
In office	1992–2002
Predecessor	Roy Williamson
Successor	David James
Other post(s)	Archdeacon of Lindisfarne (1981–1987) Bishop of Maidstone (1987–1992) Bishop to the Forces (1990–1992) Honorary assistant bishop in York and Europe (2002–2024)
Orders
Ordination	c. 1959 (deacon); c. 1960 (priest)
Consecration	6 June 1987[1]
Personal details
Born	(1935-07-14)14 July 1935 Hertfordshire, England
Died	28 January 2024(2024-01-28) (aged 88)
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglican
Parents	Stanley & Gwendolen Smith
Spouse	Mary Moult (m. 1961)
Children	One son, one daughter
Alma mater	King's College London

Biography

Born in Hertfordshire on 14 July 1935, he was educated at Hertford Grammar School (now Richard Hale School) and King's College London.^[2] He was ordained in 1959.

His first post was as an assistant curate at All Saints' Gosforth,^[3] after which he became the assistant curate of St Francis High Heaton. Following this, he was Priest in Charge St Mary Magdalene, Longbenton and then Vicar of Longhirst with Hebron. He next became Vicar of St Mary's Monkseaton.^[4] He was subsequently the Rural Dean of Tynemouth and, in 1981, was collated Archdeacon of Lindisfarne. In 1987, he was ordained to the episcopate as Bishop of Maidstone and was translated in 1992 to be the Bishop of Bradford (until 2002).^[5] From 1990 to 1992, he was also Bishop to the Forces.

Smith was a member of the House of Lords from 1997 to 2002. In retirement, he continued to serve as an honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of York and Diocese of Europe.

Smith was a Fellow of King's College London (FKC) and, in 2001, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (DUniv) from the University of Bradford.

Smith was married to Mary and had a son and a daughter. He died on 28 January 2024, at the age of 88.^[6][7]

References

1. Diocese in Europe – Prayer Diary, January–June 2014 Archived 2014-04-27 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 27 April 2014)
2. Who’s Who 2008 (London, A & C Black, 2008) ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8
3. Church details
4. Crockford's clerical directory 2008 (London, Church House 2007) ISBN 978-0-7151-1030-0
5. Debrett's, People of Today: Ed Ellis,P (London, Debtrett's, 1992) ISBN 1-870520-09-2
6. "Sad news of the passing of the Rt Revd David Smith, former Bishop of Bradford". The Church of England, Diocese of Leeds. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
7. "The Right Reverend David James Smith". The Telegraph & Argus. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.

• David Smith^{[dead link‍]}

Church of England titles
Preceded by Robert Hardy	Bishop of Maidstone 1987–1992	Succeeded by Gavin Reid
Preceded by Ronald Gordon	Bishop to the Forces 1990–1992	Succeeded by John Kirkham
Preceded by Roy Williamson	Bishop of Bradford 1992–2002	Succeeded by David James