Linton Smith
English Anglican bishop (1869–1950)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Martin Linton Smith, DSO[1] (4 July 1869 – 7 October 1950) was an Anglican bishop who served in three dioceses during the first half of the twentieth century.
Linton Smith | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Rochester | |
| |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Rochester |
| Elected | 1930 |
| Term ended | 1940 |
| Predecessor | John Harmer |
| Successor | Christopher Chavasse |
| Other posts | Bishop of Hereford 1920–1930 Bishop of Warrington 1918–1920 |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1894 |
| Consecration | c. 1918 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 July 1869 |
| Died | 7 October 1950 (aged 81) |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Parents | James Allan Smith |
| Spouse | Kathleen Dewe |
| Children | some children |
| Profession | Soldier |
| Alma mater | Hertford College, Oxford |
Life
Smith was born into a clerical family – his father was the Very Revd James Allan Smith, Dean of St David's Cathedral from 1904 until his death in 1918[2] He died in post during November 1918.[3]– and educated at Repton and Hertford College, Oxford.[4] Ordained priest in 1894 he was a curate at four parishes before securing his own incumbency at Colchester in 1902.[5] By now married to Kathleen Dewe with a young family, he gained experience in Liverpool eventually becoming a Cathedral Canon. His finest hour, however, was the First World War where he gained the DSO for his sterling work at The Somme, Arras and Ypres. He had been appointed a Temporary Chaplain to the Forces in April, 1915, serving at first in Prescott before being posted abroad. [6] He was also Mentioned in Despatches. [7][8]
When peace came he was raised to the episcopate, firstly for two years as the suffragan Bishop of Warrington; then translated[9] to the more senior post of diocesan Bishop of Hereford in 1920, serving there for a decade; and, finally, a further nine years as Bishop of Rochester. Retiring to Cheltenham in 1940 he died after a long life "rich in service".[1]
