[2] Hoskyns-Abrahall was born on 13 October 1903 to Bennet and Edith (née Tapp), and was descended from the Hoskyns baronets.

[2] He was educated at Shrewsbury School and trained at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, and Dartmouth.

[1] He was ordained a deacon on 27 September 1931[5] and a priest on 18 December 1932 (both times by Neville Lovett, Bishop of Portsmouth, at Portsmouth Cathedral),[6] and was a curate at St Mary's Portsea before becoming a chaplain at Shrewsbury School.

[7] He served St Wilfrid's Harrogate as chaplain, married Margaret Storey in 1937 – they had two sons and one daughter.

[1] During the Second World War, Hoskyns-Abrahall served as a chaplain with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR).