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
ChurchChurch of England
DioceseDiocese of Rochester
Elected1930
Term ended1940
PredecessorJohn Harmer
SuccessorChristopher Chavasse
Other post(s)Bishop of Hereford
1920–1930
Bishop of Warrington
1918–1920
Orders
Ordination1894
Consecrationc. 1918
Personal details
Born(1869-07-04)4 July 1869
Died7 October 1950(1950-10-07) (aged 81)
DenominationAnglican
ParentsJames Allan Smith
SpouseKathleen Dewe
Childrensome children
ProfessionSoldier
Alma materHertford College, Oxford

Life edit

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]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b The Times, 9 October 1950; p. 6, "Bishop Linton Smith former Bishop of Rochester"
  2. ^ Cathedral web-site
  3. ^ The Times, Saturday, Nov 30, 1918; pg. 11; Issue 41961; col B The Dean Of St. David's.
  4. ^ "Who was Who" 1897–1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
  5. ^ Malden Richard (ed) (1920). Crockford's Clerical Directory for 1920 (51st edn). London: The Field Press. p. 1578.
  6. ^ TNA, WO374/63647
  7. ^ The Times,, 2 August 1930, on appointment to Rochester
  8. ^ Hesilrige 1921, p. 467.
  9. ^ New Suffragan Bishop. (Official Appointments and Notices) The Times 29 July 1920; p. 12

Works edit

Lambeth and Reunion: An Interpretation of the Mind of the Lambeth Conference of 1920, with Frank Theodore Woods and Martin Linton Smith (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1921).

Book cited edit

Church of England titles
New title Bishop of Warrington
1918–1920
Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Hereford
1920–1930
Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Rochester
1930–1940
Succeeded by