Obituary: Former Bishop of Thetford Timothy Dudley-Smith

The Right Reverend Timothy Dudley-Smith was the Bishop of Thetford from 1981 to 1991, having spent eight years as the Archdeacon of Norwich.

The son of a schoolmaster, he began writing religious verse while on holiday in Cornwall.

Having no musical training, he adopted well-known existing tunes which ultimately made his hymns easy to sing along to.

Among the most famous is ‘Tell Out, My Soul' (1962), which broadcaster John Betjeman described as “one of the few modern hymns that will truly last". It would go on to be accepted for the Anglican Hymn Book.

Born Manchester on Boxing Day 1926, Bishop Timothy was the son of Arthur and Phyllis and went from Tonbridge School to Pembroke College, Cambridge. 

The Rt Revd Timothy Dudley-Smith speaks in a video produced by the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland (Image: Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland)

He completed training for Holy Orders at Ridley Hall, in the university city, and was ordained in Rochester Cathed­ral. 

He went on to serve as Archdeacon of Norwich from 1973 to 1981, and as Bishop of Thetford from 1981 until his retirement in 1991.  

He was awarded an OBE in 2003 for services to hymnody.  

During the 1950s, he edited Crusade magazine, which started as an offshoot of the Billy Graham campaigns.  

Besides hymns, he wrote many short books on the Christian faith and a two-volume biography of his friend Revd Dr John Stott – an influential Anglican evangelical leader of the 20th century.

His own story was told in A Functional Art: Reflections of a Hymn Writer (2017). 

Dozens of tributes have been paid since his death, including from the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher.

Rt Rev Graham Usher has paid tribute to the Rt Rev Timothy Dudley-Smith (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “Bishop Timothy was particularly involved with education and vocations within the diocese. I have heard how on school visits he would entertain pupils by balancing his crozier (a bishop's pastoral staff) on his chin. 

“A retired priest told me how Bishop Timothy gave him the thumbs up to continuing his ordination training when others thought him too ‘risky’ as a long-haired biker.

“Bishop Timothy and his wife served the Diocese of Norwich for 18 years and continued to pay an active interest in our life in retirement.  

“When I became Bishop of Norwich, Bishop Timothy wrote a most warm and encouraging letter, and we corresponded further about his passion for the environment.  

“Of course, he was a well-known hymn-writer, including the blockbuster ‘Tell Out, My Soul’ which has encouraged many people in their Christian faith, or to add their ‘yes’ to God’s call in their lives and make a commitment to following Jesus.

“In the words of that hymn, may Bishop Timothy now fully know 'the greatness of the Lord’.” 

David Maddox, who was confirmed by the bishop in Norfolk as a teenager, said: “Thorough gentleman and great hymn writer.” 

And finally, the composer and music producer, Thomas Hewitt Jones, added: “Sorry to hear of the death of celebrated writer of hymn texts Rt Revd Timothy Dudley-Smith, at 97 years of age.

“It was a real pleasure to set several of his words over the last 15 years, and he was a very kind friend to me. 

"Timothy told me over a slap-up lunch at his house in Salisbury to always write with integrity – depending on the project – and always to query and challenge publisher contracts. 

“RIP lovely and clever man." 

He died on August 12 in Cambridge and is survived by a son and two daughters. His wife, who he married in 1959, died in 2007. 

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