The Rev., later Canon, J R “Reg” Smith was Vicar of St. Thomas’s from 1949 to ’59, and was Rector of Bury for over 30 years. Born in 1915, he retained the zest for life that saw him double the number of communicants at the Radcliffe church and transform its social life. Outside church he was best known as a witty after-dinner speaker and for his near-miraculous enthusiasm for Bury Football Club. He was President of “The North West Counties Football League, which was formed in 1982, until he passed away in 1997.

When he was 81, he received the MBE, one of the longest serving clergymen in the country, the Rector was a most popular figure in the town and received the award for "service to the community".

First published on Tuesday 04 November 1997:

Sudden death of Canon Smith, 82

THE Rector of Bury, Canon John Reginald Smith, died suddenly last night while visiting a patient at Bury General Hospital.

Canon Smith, 82, took ill at the home of a parishioner in Bury and died later in hospital shortly before 6pm.

Apart from his work at Bury Parish Church, Canon Smith was involved in various local groups and was vice-chairman of Bury Football Club. He was also chairman of governors at Bury Church High School and president of the North West Counties Football League.

Affectionately known as Reg, the rector was a much loved and highly respected character in Bury, and earlier this year was awarded the MBE for his services to the community.

His wit and humour meant he was in big demand as an after-dinner speaker. He leaves his wife Dorothea and two children, Diana and Patrick.

First published on Thursday 13 November 1997:

Popular Rector dies during pastoral visit

CANON J. R. "Reg" Smith MBE, the much-loved Rector of Bury for more than 30 years, has died aged 82.

The Rector died as he had lived, serving the people of Bury. On Monday he collapsed at the home of a parishioner during a pastoral visit, and was taken to Bury General Hospital where he passed away.

Canon Smith was vice-chairman of Bury Football Club, chairman of governors at Bury CE High School and divisional police chaplain, just three of his many roles within the local community. He was awarded the MBE in the New Year's Honours list this year for services to the community.

Canon Smith came to Bury as Rector of the Parish Church in 1966, and had previously served as Vicar of St Thomas's in Radcliffe for ten years from 1949. Ordained in Manchester in 1941, he was the longest-serving incumbent in the Diocese of Manchester.

The rector leaves a wife, Dorothea, and two children, a son Patrick, and daughter, Diana.

Canon Smith was born in 1915. He was educated at Manchester Cathedral Choir School, then started teaching in Liverpool. He later studied at Trinity College, Dublin, and then studied theology at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He was ordained as a priest in Manchester in 1941.

He was a curate at Christ Church, Heaton Norris and St Matthew's, Stretford, between 1941 and 1947, and it was during that time he married Dorothea. They had met while he was at Oxford.

During the war years he worked as an Army welfare chaplain, and chaplain to the Actors' Church Union.

He was Rector of All Saint's, Stretford, from 1947-49, and then had his first stay in this area, when he was appointed vicar of St Thomas's, Radcliffe, in 1949.

He stayed in Radcliffe for ten years and is still fondly remembered in the town, and not just for his ministry.

His two great passions of song and sport were given full rein in his years at St Thomas's. A stalwart of Radcliffe Cricket Club, he became close friends with the club's West Indian star Frank Worrell and his family.

He was also a stalwart of St Thomas's Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society, appearing in a number of shows in leading roles.

He left the Manchester diocese for the only time in his long church career when he became Vicar of Sutton in Liverpool between 1959 and 1966.

He returned to the diocese in 1966 when he became Rector of Bury, the position he held until his death. The rector was made an honorary canon of Manchester Cathedral in 1972 and served as rural dean for the Bury Deanery for his first 20 years as rector.

As with Radcliffe, he made as much impact outside the church as in it. He became an ardent fan of Bury FC, joining the board 24 years ago.

Since then he had served more than two decades as vice-chairman of the club, and was also president of the North West Counties Soccer League.

Well-known as an after-dinner speaker, the rector travelled the country to fulfil speaking obligations.

As well as his involvement in sport and music he had links with countless organisations, institutions and individuals around the town.

He was noted for his tireless work as a minister in the parish, having baptised, married and buried countless people through the generations.