CofE clergy praise new Bishop of St Albans

Senior Church of England clergy in the Diocese of Lichfield have paid tribute to the Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Rt Rev Dr Alan Smith, who was named this morning by Downing Street as the new Bishop of St Albans.

Bishop Smith 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.

Following this week's announcement, the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Rev Jonathan Gledhill, said Bishop Smith's Area had "led the way into organising 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," he said.

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 of the Bishop's new appointment, “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."