Rocksborough Smith

Rocksborough Remington Smith (30 November 1872 – 5 March 1955^[1]) was a British Anglican bishop in the first half of the 20th century.^[2]

Smith was born in Brighton, England. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of London, he also earned a Bachelor of Theology from Salisbury Theological College in 1899. He was ordained as a deacon in 1900 and to priesthood in 1901 in the Manchester Cathedral by Bishop Moorhouse.^[3][4]

In 1902 he completed a Master of Arts degree at Selwyn College, Cambridge.^[5] Smith went on to earn a Doctor of Divinity in 1925 from University of King's College, Halifax, Nova Scotia.^[6]

He was a Lecturer at Ordsall Hall, Manchester then Vice-Principal of Salisbury Theological College. After this he was Principal of Clergy House, Wimbledon until 1909. He then held a similar post at the Diocesan High School for Europeans in Rangoon until 1914 when he became Vicar of Broadstone, Dorset.^[7] In 1921 he became Professor of Divinity at Bishop's University, Lennoxville, Quebec. From 1924 to 1926 he was the examining chaplain to the Anglican Bishop of Quebec.^[8]

Smith was consecrated as co-adjutor Bishop of Algoma in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on September 21, 1926, by Archbishop George Thorneloe.^[9] Smith was the first Bishop of Algoma to be consecrated in his See-Church. In 1927 following the retirement of the previous Bishop, Smith was made Diocesan Bishop of Algoma.^[6] He served as Bishop of Algoma until 1939.^[8] During his time as Bishop of Algoma Smith brought the Society of St. John the Evangelist to the Muskoka region of the Algoma Diocese.^[10]

Returning to England he was first General Secretary of the Church Union, then Rector of Lapford from 1943 until his retirement in 1952; he was also Assistant Bishop of Exeter, 1947–1952.^[7] Smith died on April 5, 1955, at Hove, Sussex.^[1]

Smith won numerous prizes for his academic scholarship, including:

• Greek Testament Prize (University of Cambridge)
• First Class Theological Tripos Prize (University of Cambridge)
• Bishop John Selwyn Scholarship (University of Cambridge)
• University Hebrew Prize (Salisbury Theological College)
• Delhi Durbar Medal recipient^[8]

He was the author of The Epistle of St. Paul's First Trial (1899) and Christianity in the Home (1933).^[6]

• Bishop Rocksborough R. Smith fonds