[citation needed] From 1979 to 1981, he trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, an evangelical Anglican theological college.

[5][6] He undertook postgraduate research at the University of Wales, Bangor, and graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 2002.

[7] After ordination as a deacon at Petertide 1981 (on 28 June in Bradford Cathedral)[8] and as a priest the Petertide following (27 June 1982 at Christ Church, Skipton) — both times by Geoffrey Paul, Bishop of Bradford,[9] he began his career as assistant curate at St Lawrence and St Paul Pudsey.

In 1984 he took up the post as chaplain of the Lee Abbey Community near Lynton in North Devon where he had particular responsibility for mission and the creative arts.

He has spoken on a wide range of subjects in Parliament with a particular focus on rural matters, agriculture, housing, welfare, and problem gambling.

Smith blames the UK government for not limiting the amount people can gamble on those machines to £2, Smith stated the government delay was out of step with, "politicians and campaigners [who] are united in seeking the earliest possible introduction of the maximum £2 stake for FOBTs which will alleviate some of the devastating consequences of people addicted to gambling on them, some who can lose their homes and savings to them and then take their lives in desperation.

[5] He has contributed chapters to Changing Rural Life (2004) and Celebrating Community: God's Gift for Today's World (2006).

He has written Growing up in Multi-faith Britain: Explorations in Youth, Ethnicity and Religion (2007), God-Shaped Mission: A Perspective from the Rural Church (2008), and co-authored The Reflective Leader (2011).