Peter David Gregory Smith (21 October 1943 – 6 March 2020) was an
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
prelate
A prelate () is a high-ranking member of the Christian clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin , the past participle of , which means 'carry before', 'be set above or over' or 'pre ...
of the
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
, serving as Archbishop of the
Archdiocese of Southwark. He had previously served as the
Bishop of East Anglia (1995–2001),
Metropolitan Archbishop of Cardiff (2001–2010) and
Metropolitan Archbishop of Southwark (2010–2019).
Early life
Smith was born on 21 October 1943 in
Battersea, London, England. He was educated at
Clapham College
Clapham College was a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys in South London.
Background
It opened in 1897 and closed in 1989. Its history falls into three phases: for half a century it was a private school, for three decades it was a publicl ...
, then an all-boys
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
voluntary-aided
grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching Latin, but more recently an academically oriented secondary school ...
. He studied at
Exeter University
, mottoeng = "We Follow the Light"
, established = 1838 - St Luke's College1855 - Exeter School of Art1863 - Exeter School of Science 1955 - University of Exeter (received royal charter)
, type = Public
, ...
, where he earned his
bachelor's degree in law. He then undertook studies for the priesthood at
St. John's Seminary in
Wonersh
Wonersh is a village and civil parish in the Waverley district of Surrey, England and Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Wonersh contains three Conservation Areas and spans an area three to six miles SSE of Guildford. In the o ...
and the
Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)
A pontifical ( la, pontificale) is a Christian liturgical book containing the liturgies that only a bishop may perform. Among the liturgies are those of the ordinal for the ordination and consecration of deacons, priests, and bishops to Holy O ...
in
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
(earning his
doctorate in canon law).
Ordained ministry
Smith was
ordained
Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform ...
to the
priesthood on 5 July 1972. After doing
pastoral work from 1972 to 1974, Smith began teaching
canon law
Canon law (from grc, κανών, , a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its members. It is th ...
at his ''
alma mater'',
St John's Seminary, Wonersh
St John's Seminary was a Roman Catholic seminary located at Wonersh near Guildford in Surrey, in the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, United Kingdom. St John's was the principal seminary for the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton and the Archdioc ...
, in 1977. He then served as a
curate in
Thornton Heath
Thornton Heath is a district of Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Croydon. It is around north of the town of Croydon, and south of Charing Cross. Prior to the creation of Greater London in 1965, Thornton Heath was in the Co ...
(1984–1985) and as the
rector
Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to:
Style or title
*Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations
*Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...
of St John's Seminary (1985–1995).
Episcopate
On 21 March 1995, Smith was appointed
Bishop of East Anglia by
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...
. He received his
episcopal consecration
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
on the following 21 May from Cardinal
Basil Hume OSB, with Archbishop
Michael George Bowen
Michael George Bowen (23 April 1930 – 17 October 2019) was a British prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Southwark from 1977 to 2003, having previously served as Bishop of Arundel and Brighton.
Life and ministry ...
and Bishop
Alan Charles Clark serving as
co-consecrators. Smith was later named Archbishop of Cardiff on 26 October 2001, following the resignation of the
Capuchin,
John Ward, amid a controversy about
paedophile priests in the
archdiocese. In regard to these sexual abuse cases, Smith declared that he "wanted to help people bind up the wounds and bring healing". He also voiced his opposition to
living wills in 2004, fearing that "a proxy could make a decision to do away with someone for the motive of killing someone".
Smith has been
chair of the
Catholic Truth Society
Catholic Truth Society (CTS) is a body that prints and publishes Catholic literature, including apologetics, prayerbooks, spiritual reading, and lives of saints. It is based in London, the United Kingdom.
The CTS had been founded in 1868 by ...
and the Department for Christian Responsibility and Citizenship within the
Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW) is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
Overview
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales is the permanent assembly of Catholic Bisho ...
from 1998 to 2019. He was also chairman of the Central Religious Advisory Committee (CRAC) of the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
from 2001 to 2004. In 2002 he was made a sub-
. In 2004 he was made an
in 2006. On 30 April 2010, Smith was named as the
who resigned the see due to ill health. He was installed on 10 June 2010. On 28 October 2015, Smith opened the new Saint Jude Information Centre during the 60th anniversary of the Shrine of Saint Jude. He was made a Guild Life member by Fr Kevin Alban in 2016. On 10 June 2019, Smith's resignation from the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Southwark was accepted by Pope Francis, and Bishop John Wilson was named as his successor.
that Smith was one of two bishops responsible for allowing Anthony McSweeney to be appointed as a priest in the
following an incident in 1998 in which "a housekeeper found what she said were pornographic images at his
home".