[1][2] Gribble was born in Ballarat, Victoria, and trained as a pharmaceutical chemist.

In 1924 he was accepted as a candidate for ministry and attended Queen's College (University of Melbourne).

He had appointments to congregations in Alice Springs, Cobram, Shepparton, Hobart, and Launceston before Tonga.

In 1958 he was the Australian representative at the World Conference of the International Missionary Council.

The Uniting Church in Australia parish at Dee Why, New South Wales, is named in his honour.