William Carr Smith

William Carr Smith (1857–1930) was a Church of England priest, best known as the rector of St James' Church, Sydney from 1896 to 1910, whose Anglo-Catholic and Christian socialist ideals transformed Sydney's oldest church. Carr Smith's teaching was said to be "continuous, methodical, very direct, very plain, and quite fearless".

Early years William Isaac Carr Smith was born 13 October 1857, at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, son of George Smith, a merchant seaman, and his wife Elizabeth, née Tolgat.

Carr served as a curate for seven years in several parishes in Staffordshire before taking the parish of St John's, Longton, in 1887. During his time as a curate he was influenced by Christian socialism. In reference to the discussions about the changes, Carr Smith is quoted as saying:

The new chancel made room for a robed choir, and eucharistic vestments. despite the fact that his sermons were long. One of them, lasting an hour and a half, drew crowds until there was standing room only.

Other roles and community engagement As well as his work in St James', Carr Smith was chaplain to the Governor of New South Wales, Earl Beauchamp, from 1899 to 1900, worked with the Sisters of the Church, became the Chaplain to Sydney Hospital from 1899 to 1919, and a fellow of St. Paul's College from 1897 to 1900. He was also a Commissioner to New Guinea in 1910.

Beyond preaching and community work, he gave popular lectures on secular subjects such as "Egypt, Palestine, Russia, and Constantinople".

Returns to England Carr Smith took leave of absence in 1906 and returned to England with his sister, making the journey via Japan and the United States. On the occasions of both this departure and the one in 1909, affectionate and appreciative words were written about him in the press.

However, his socialist views were in opposition to most of Sydney's right-wing Anglicans, including members of his own congregation and he himself was discouraged by "the prevalence of the non-religious spirit". Both he and his congregation were moved by his farewell sermon delivered on Sunday 25 April 1909.

In England Carr Smith accepted the parish of St Wulfram's Church, Grantham in Lincolnshire, where he became a canon of Lincoln Cathedral. From 1917 he served at Eastbourne, then at Forty Hill, as rector and rural dean.

He died on 3 July 1930 and is buried at Bromley, Kent.