David Smith (bishop)

David James Smith (14 July 1935 – 28 January 2024) was an Anglican bishop of the Church of England.

Biography
Born in Hertfordshire, he was educated at Hertford Grammar School (now Richard Hale School) and King's College London. He was ordained in 1959.

His first post was as an assistant curate at All Saints' Gosforth, 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. 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). 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 in January 2024, at the age of 88.