The Right Revd Dr Alan Smith, Bishop of St Albans, has announced his intention to retire in 2025. His letter to the Diocese, shared today, is published in full below:
Dear friends and colleagues,
It has been the privilege of my life to serve as the Bishop of St Albans. However, next month I will be 68 and the time has come for me to lay down my responsibilities and to hand the baton of leadership on to whomever the Lord calls to succeed me. I am writing, therefore, to tell you that, with the support and permission of His Majesty the King, I will be retiring as Diocesan Bishop on 31 May 2025.
The past sixteen years have been full of challenges, opportunities and surprises. With God’s help, I have encouraged us to ‘Live God’s Love’ among the people of Herts, Beds and Luton and parts of Barnet, and to do so with generosity and joy, with imagination and courage. In that endeavour, I have been grateful for my colleagues on the senior staff and for the support of so many clergy and lay people across the Diocese. I never cease to give thanks to God for the warmth of your friendship. You have enriched my life and ministry in countless ways.
I plan to retire to Wiltshire, the county in which I was born and brought up, and where most of my extended family continue to live.
There will be plenty of opportunities to say our farewells in the Spring. In the meantime, I have many things I still want to do in my remaining months in office as I seek to serve God and prepare for the next phase of my life and ministry.
Please pray for me as I pray for you,
Bishop Alan