South Yorkshire Times, Saturday December 22nd 1951
Former Swinton Curate
New Vicar of Bolton
The vicar of Bolton-on-Dearne is to be the Rev. Frank Smedley, since 1918 priest-in-charge of New Maltby and previously for five years curate of Swinton.
Mr. Smedley will succeed the Rev. D. C. Sparks, who is leaving in the New Year to return to the Diocese of Ely.
Lord Halifax is patron of the living of Bolton.
Mr. Smedley will come to Bolton in late February.
Mr. Smedley only son of Mr. and Mrs. Smedley of 11, Cobcar Street, Elsecar, was born at Elsecar and was educated at Elsecar National School, Barnsley Grammar School and Penistone College, Staffs. He was a former choirboy and server at Elsecar Parish Church and trained for the Church at Kelham Theological College, near Newark. He was made Deacon in 1940 and priested in 1941.
His first curacy was at St. Stephen’s, Redditch, from 1940 to 1942, when he went to Swinton. For two years he was priest-in-charge of St. Michael’s, Swinton, and then he worked among young people at the Parish Church. While at Swinton he was secretary and then chairman of Swinton Youth Council, President of Swinton A.I.P.A. branch, chairman of Swinton Church Football Club, which flourished during the war years.
At Maltby, various improvements have been made to the Church of the Ascension while he has been In charge. The church roof has been repaired, the interior of the church and church hut have been re-decorated, a wall has been built around the church by the efforts of the Church Wall Committee, the church has been licensed for marriages, and a new organ blower—the gift of Maltby Show Committee —has been installed.
Mr. Smedley has also been active in social and youth work. He is Group Scoutmaster of the 3rd Maltby (Church of the Ascension) Scout troop, Chairman of Maltby Youth Council, a member of the County Youth Club House Committee, Chaplain to the 6th Battalion York and Lancs. Army Cadets, the Maltby Branch of R.A.F.A., and of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. He is also chairman of Maltby Savings Committee, a member of Maltby Main F.C.. and a playing member of the Sandbeck Park Cricket Club. He has interested himself in dramatics, producing the first New Church pantomime, “Babes in the Wood” in 1949, which has now become an annual event.
He is a member of the Sheffield Diocesan Youth Committee and of the Diocesan Missionary Council. He is also a part-time teacher of mining students at Rotherham Technical College. In November, 1948, when Princess Margaret mime to Sandbeck, he was presented to Her Royal Highness and took the service.
Mr. Smedley is married, with a little girl, Veronica Bernadine, aged six. Mrs. Smedley is Enrolling Member of the New-Maltby Mothers Union, Young Wives, Group, a member of R.A.F.A., and is well-known as a singer. She is due to play the Principal Girl (Princess Sadie) in the New Church pantomime, “Aladdin” at the Sports Association Pavilion early in February.
Mr. Smedley, whose father was a miner, has been private chaplain to Lord Scarbrough.