Alan Smith (bishop)

The Right Reverend Alan Smith
Bishop of St Albans
Smith in August 2011
Diocese	Diocese of St Albans
Installed	2009
Predecessor	Christopher Herbert
Other posts	area Bishop of Shrewsbury (2001–2009) Archdeacon of Stoke (1997–2001)
Orders
Ordination	1981
Consecration	2001
Personal details
Birth name	Alan Gregory Clayton Smith
Born	(1957-02-14) 14 February 1957 (age 60)
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglican
Residence	Abbey Gate House, St Albans
Alma mater	University of Birmingham

Alan Gregory Clayton Smith (born 14 February 1957) is a British Anglican bishop. Since 2009, he has been the Bishop of St Albans. From 2001 to 2009, he served as the area Bishop of Shrewsbury.

Smith was born on 14 February 1957, to Frank Eric Smith and Rosemary Clayton Smith. His family is originally from Trowbridge and Westbury, Wiltshire. He was educated at Trowbridge Grammar School for Boys.

Smith studied theology at the University of Birmingham, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and a Master of Arts (MA) degree. His master's thesis was titled 'The Poetic Art of the Hebrew Prophets'. He undertook postgraduate research at the University of Wales, Bangor, and graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. He trained for the priesthood at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.

After ordination in 1981 in Bradford Cathedral he began his career as assistant curate at St Lawrence and St 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. In 1989 he was appointed as the Diocesan Missioner and Executive Secretary of the Board for Mission and Unity for the Lichfield and finally in 1997 (before his ordination as a bishop]])Archdeacon of Stoke. While archdeacon he chaired the North Staffordshire Faiths in Friendship. He was a member of the General Synod of the Church of England from 1999.