Gordon V. Smith
Encyclopedia
Gordon V. Smith was a bishop
in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. He was bishop of the Diocese of Iowa
from 1950-1971. He was the first Bishop of Iowa who was canonically resident in the state when he was elected bishop.
. He was educated at Kalamazoo College
, and was ordained a deacon
and a priest
in 1931. His wife’s name was Florence and they raised six children.
As a priest, he served Grace Church in Albion, Michigan
, from 1931–35; Grace Church in Ponca City, Oklahoma
, from 1935 to 1943; and St. Paul's Church
in Des Moines, Iowa
, from 1943-1950.
In 1951, the Iowa Canterbury Association was organized and increased the emphasis of providing pastoral ministry to college students across the state. Two years later, the diocese celebrated its centennial and a short history was written by the diocesan historiographer Millington F. Carpenter. Celebrations in Cedar Rapids
where carried nationwide by CBS Radio
and from Trinity Cathedral
in Davenport
by WOC-TV
.
The Diocese of Iowa grew during the episcopate of Bishop Smith. For the first time, the number of priests equaled the number of congregations. The number of communicants grew from 10,908 in 1950 to 13,451 in 1960. The number of confirmations grew from 654 in 1950 to over 1,000 by 1960. By 1972, there were 14,522 communicants and 21,618 baptized people in the diocese.
where he became the interim Dean of St. Mark’s Cathedral. He and his wife eventually moved to Palos Verdes Estates, California
where he died of prostate cancer
at 91. Funeral service were celebrated at St. Francis Church in Palos Verdes Estates and the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Des Moines. He was buried in Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines
.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. He was bishop of the Diocese of Iowa
Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
The Episcopal Diocese of Iowa is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America which covers all of Iowa. It is in Province VI. Its offices are in Des Moines, and it has two cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of St...
from 1950-1971. He was the first Bishop of Iowa who was canonically resident in the state when he was elected bishop.
Early life & Ministry
Gordon Smith was born in Kalamazoo, MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. He was educated at Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo College, also known as K College or simply K, is a private liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1833, the college is among the 100 oldest in the country. Today, it produces more Peace Corps volunteers per capita than any other U.S...
, and was ordained a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
and a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in 1931. His wife’s name was Florence and they raised six children.
As a priest, he served Grace Church in Albion, Michigan
Albion, Michigan
Albion is a city in Calhoun County in the south central region of the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. The population was 9,144 at the 2000 census and is part of the Battle Creek Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, from 1931–35; Grace Church in Ponca City, Oklahoma
Ponca City, Oklahoma
Ponca City is a small city in Kay and Osage counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, which was named after the Ponca Tribe. Located in north central Oklahoma, it lies approximately south of the Kansas border, and approximately east of Interstate 35. 25,919 people called Ponca City home at the...
, from 1935 to 1943; and St. Paul's Church
Cathedral Church of Saint Paul (Des Moines)
The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, is located at 815 High Street, Des Moines, Iowa in the United States. It is the cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010 as St. Paul's Episcopal Church.-St. Paul's Episcopal...
in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, from 1943-1950.
Bishop of Iowa
Smith was elected the sixth Bishop of Iowa in 1950 at a Special Convention. He was consecrated on April 20 of the same year at St. Paul’s in Des Moines by Bishops Henry Knox Sherril, William Blair Roberts and Lewis B. Whittemore. He was the 498th Episcopal bishop consecrated in the United States. He served the diocese during a period of growth, and strengthened it financially. He served on the Episcopal Church’s Executive Council for six years, and attended the Lambeth Conference in 1958 and 1968.In 1951, the Iowa Canterbury Association was organized and increased the emphasis of providing pastoral ministry to college students across the state. Two years later, the diocese celebrated its centennial and a short history was written by the diocesan historiographer Millington F. Carpenter. Celebrations in Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
where carried nationwide by CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
and from Trinity Cathedral
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (Davenport, Iowa)
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is the historic cathedral in the Diocese of Iowa. The cathedral is located on the bluff overlooking Downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974...
in Davenport
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
by WOC-TV
KWQC-TV
KWQC-TV, virtual channel 6 , is the NBC-affiliated television station for the Quad Cities television market . It is licensed to Davenport and is owned by Young Broadcasting...
.
The Diocese of Iowa grew during the episcopate of Bishop Smith. For the first time, the number of priests equaled the number of congregations. The number of communicants grew from 10,908 in 1950 to 13,451 in 1960. The number of confirmations grew from 654 in 1950 to over 1,000 by 1960. By 1972, there were 14,522 communicants and 21,618 baptized people in the diocese.
Later life & Death
After his retirement from the office of bishop, Smith moved to Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
where he became the interim Dean of St. Mark’s Cathedral. He and his wife eventually moved to Palos Verdes Estates, California
Palos Verdes Estates, California
Palos Verdes Estates is a city, incorporated in 1939, in Los Angeles County, California, USA on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The city was masterplanned by the noted American landscape architect and planner Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. The population was 13,438 at the 2010 census, up from 13,340 in the...
where he died of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
at 91. Funeral service were celebrated at St. Francis Church in Palos Verdes Estates and the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Des Moines. He was buried in Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines
West Des Moines, Iowa
West Des Moines is a city in Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 46,403; a special census taken in the spring of 2005 counted 51,744 residents and the United States Census Bureau estimated that 53,889 residents lived there in...
.