Clare was born 17 November 1884, the youngest of six children of William Henry and Mary Ellen (Callen) Purcell of Roanoke, Alabama.
His father was in the 13th North Carolina Regiment of the Confederate States Army and served in battle.
Clare married Ida West (whom he met in college) 28 December 1910 and they had three children: John Robert (b.
Purcell was granted a Local Preacher's License in 1906 by the Lafayette District Conference of the M.E.
In November of that year he was admitted on trial to the North Alabama Annual Conference, serving a one-year appointment on the Wedowee Circuit.
Purcell entered service as a chaplain in the 131st Infantry of the U.S. Army during World War I.
Purcell also served the greater Church as a member of the Commission on Methodist Unification (1934–38).
In retirement, Bishop Purcell remained in Birmingham, where he served as president of the board of directors of Carraway Methodist Hospital.