Background
Smith was born on 14 February 1957, to Frank Eric Smith and Rosemary Clayton Smith.
Smith was born on 14 February 1957, to Frank Eric Smith and Rosemary Clayton Smith.
He was educated at Trowbridge Grammar School for Boys. Smith studied theology at the University of Birmingham, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Bachelor) degree and a Master of Arts (Master of Arts) degree. He undertook postgraduate research at the University of Wales, Bangor, and graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (Doctor of Philosophy) degree.
Since 2009, he has been the Bishop of Street Albans. From 2001 to 2009, he served as the area Bishop of Shrewsbury. His family is originally from Trowbridge and Westbury, Wiltshire.
His master"s thesis was titled "The Poetic Art of the Hebrew Prophets".
He trained for the priesthood at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. After ordination in 1981 in Bradford Cathedral he began his career as assistant curate at Street Lawrence and Street Paul Pudsey.
In 1982 he was ordained a priest at Christ Church, Skipton. In 1984 he took up the post as chaplain of the Lee Abbey Community near Lynton in North Devon where had particular responsibility for mission and the creative arts
Episcopal ministry In 2001 he was consecrated the Bishop of Shrewsbury (one of the suffragan sees in the Diocese of Lichfield).
In 2002 he completed his Doctor of Philosophy as an external student of the University of Wales (Bangor). Foreign Lent 2006 Smith committed himself to living on the minimum wage. His election as Bishop of Street Albans by the College of Canons of the Cathedral took place on 13 February 2009, and the confirmation of his election (a legal ceremony with Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury) followed on 31 March.
Smith"s inauguration took place on 19 September 2009.
From 2009 to 2011 he was joint chairman of the Anglican Methodist Working Party on the Ecclesiology of Emerging Expressions of Church which produced the report Fresh Expression in the Mission of the Church (2012). Foreign the centenary of the newly reconfigured Diocese of Street Albans in 2014 he wrote Saints and Pilgrims in the Diocese of Street Albans (2013).
On 4 November 2013 he took his seat in the House of Lords as one of the Lords Spiritual. The Reverend Alan Smith (1981–1997) The Venerable Alan Smith (1997–2001) The Right Reverend Alan Smith (2001–2002) The Right Reverend Doctor Alan Smith (2002–present).
And was a member of the Rural Bishops" Panel from 2006–2009.
