Senior Church of England clergy in the Diocese of Lichfield have paid tribute to the Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Rt Revd Dr Alan Smith, who was named this morning by Downing Street as the new Bishop of St Albans.
Bishop Alan is expected to finish his current role just before Easter, ending a near-20 year association with the Diocese of Lichfield which he joined as Diocesan Missioner and Team Vicar in Walsall in 1990. Seven years later he was appointed to the role of Archdeacon of Stoke-upon-Trent, responsible for an area stretching from north of Cannock Chase through to the whole of north Staffordshire, and from the Shropshire border to East Staffordshire and the Staffordshire Moorlands.
He held that role until he was appointed Area Bishop of Shrewsbury in 2001, becoming responsible for all the Anglican churches in the northern half of Shropshire.
Throughout his time in Lichfield Diocese he has been responsible for guiding and pushing the church’s mission and outreach and was instrumental in shaping the diocese’s mission strategies. And for many years he chaired the Spotlight editorial advisory group, which advised the editor of the diocesan newspaper Carol Law.
Following today’s announcement, the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill, said: “I am delighted that Alan Smith is going to St Alban’s where his many gifts will be much appreciated. We will miss him enormously; he has done three significant jobs in Lichfield Diocese and has brought riches to each one. As Diocesan Missioner, based in a Black Country parish, he provided much of the inspiration for the diocesan strategy Growing the Kingdom. As Archdeacon of Stoke-upon-Trent, he cared for the largest archdeaconry in the Diocese and one of the toughest in the country. And since 2001, as Bishop of Shrewsbury, his Area led the way into organizing the Diocese to move out of decline and into healthy churches that can grow again.
“All Alan’s energies come from his deep prayer-life and relationship with Christ. We will miss his friendship and pray that his ministry in St Alban’s will be happy and fruitful.”
The Archdeacon of Salop, the Ven John Hall, covers an area identical to the Shrewsbury Episcopal Area, and works very closely with the Bishop of Shrewsbury. He said this morning: “It is nearly twenty years ago that I first met Alan, I was the Rural Dean of Uttoxeter and he, as Diocesan Missioner, came to speak out our deanery synod. Some years later (1997) he was appointed the Archdeacon of Stoke-upon-Trent and we worked together for a year when, in 1998, I was made Archdeacon of Salop.
“Archdeacons in a diocese work together and we became good colleagues. In 1991 I was delighted when Alan became The Bishop of Shrewsbury. These past seven years have been exciting as we led the Salop Archdeaconry together. We have become very good working friends and close colleagues and I have known for some time that his wide ranging skills and gifts would be needed at the highest level in the Church of England.
“Alan, alongside his musical and campanology skills, is an excellent bishop, with a real heart for the mission of Christ’s church. He is a very clear thinker with a clearly focused vision and an ability to take people with him on a journey of faith. He is an inspiring spiritual leader, which is founded in his own devotion to prayer and Bible study.
“Uniquely alongside this he is a faithful pastor to the clergy, their families and the laity in his care. He also has been very involved in the local structures and not only the Church of England but the whole of north Shropshire will miss his friendly leadership and involvement in many areas of civic and commercial life.
“Personally I am both overjoyed and saddened at the same time. I am delighted for Alan. Becoming a Diocesan Bishop is a great privilege that comes to few and I offer him my sincere congratulation and promise my thoughts and prayers will be with him in his new challenge. And I am saddened that I am loosing a sincere friend and colleague. I know that my fellow Archdeacons in St Albans Diocese are in for an exciting time and I wish Alan and them every blessing.”
The other two Area Bishops in the Diocese have also paid tribute. The Bishop of Stafford, the Rt Revd Gordon Mursell, said: “When Alan Smith was Archdeacon of Stoke-upon-Trent, he won the love and respect of everyone in this Episcopal area. So it will not be just the people of Shropshire who will miss him immensely when he leaves. Nonetheless we rejoice that the Church has recognized his gifts as an outstanding Christian leader, evangelist, and prophet for our times: St Albans are fortunate indeed to have him as their new Bishop.”
And the Bishop of Wolverhampton, the Rt Revd Clive Gregory, said: “Bishop Alan is held in great affection and respect by many in the Wolverhampton Episcopal Area as a result of his ministry here while team vicar in Walsall, combined with Diocesan Missioner. We offer our warmest good wishes and assurance of our prayers as he prepares for his move to the See of St Albans."