Church Pioneer Dies

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An "irreplaceable" pioneer of the UK's Black Church movement has died aged 70.

 
Rev Dr Io Smith was a minister in the New Testament Assembly, one of the UK's best-known Black Majority Churches, in which she served as pastor and international representative. She was also known as the author of the book "An Ebony Cross: Being Black in Britain Today," (published in 1989) which has a forward by Archbishop Robert Runcie.

Pastor Smith, as she was affectionately known, was a key figure in establishing Black Christianity in the UK. Arriving in London in 1957, as a Baptist, she responded to the rejection and unfriendliness she experienced by joining a Black Pentecostal Church. This paved the way to leadership roles in the church and wider community. She pastored a congregation in Leyton (London); was development officer at the Zebra Project - London Borough of Tower Hamlet; and was General Secretary of the New Testament Assembly for 25 years. Ten years ago, she was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen for her contribution to community work.

Dr Smith passed away on Sunday, 11 May in her native island of Jamaica where she returned to live in 1999. She is survived by her husband Leonard Smith, five children and grandchildren.

The International Bishop of the New Testament Assembly, The Rt. Revd Melvin Powell, said: "Revd Smith is irreplaceable. She has been at the forefront of our church for half a century and has given selflessly not just to the church community but to the whole of society. She was particularly fond of investing into the lives of young people. We miss her dearly."

The funeral will take place in Jamaica on 29 or 30 May.

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