New Archdeacon will be a referee who wants to “try to keep his cards in his pocket”

Mr Smith has twenty-eight years experience of ordained ministry including a period as Chaplain of City University in London. He has worked in the Diocese of St Albans for the past twenty years in both rural Bedfordshire and suburban Hertfordshire and also served as Chaplain to Bedfordshire Police, as a Rural Dean and as Chairman of the Diocesan Board of Patronage.

The Bishop of St Albans the Rt Revd Christopher Herbert welcomed his appointment, saying: “In the Revd Jonathan Smith we have found someone with the broad experience that will allow him to put himself in others’ shoes. He combines this with an approachable style that will enable people to work together to make the Church more effective at bringing God’s love to our communities.”

Mr Smith is well known in Harpenden for his community involvement. His interests include refereeing in a youth football league and he is a keen amateur actor. He says “There are some similarities between an archdeacon and a referee. Both are about allowing people to get on with an exhilarating and wonderful task: whether that is playing football or changing lives with the message of the gospel. The key is to know when to stop play and when to play on. My approach will be to want to keep my cards in my pocket, so to speak,” he said, referring to the red and yellow penalty cards that referees carry.

St John’s has seen Mr Smith’s capacity to enable new things to happen. Once it was made legally possible to allow children to take Holy Communion before Confirmation, he successfully introduced this and has become well known as an advocate for it. It will be one of the many things he will be remembered for at St Johns. He will remain Vicar there until the summer, during the celebrations for the parish’s centenary which began on March 2 nd.

Mr Smith is single and grew up in East Suffolk where he became a lifelong supporter of Ipswich Town FC: The Tractor Boys.