[3] Sansbury trained for ordination at Westcott House, Cambridge and was ordained deacon in 1928 and priest in 1929.
From 1932 Sansbury worked as an SPG Missionary at Numazu, Japan serving in various churches of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai.
Until the outbreak of hostilities in 1941 Sansbury also served as chaplain to the British congregation at St. Andrew's Church, Tokyo.
After repatriation to Canada he became a World War II chaplain in the RCAF then Warden of Lincoln Theological College until 1952.
From 1952 to 1961 he held a similar post at St Augustine's College, Canterbury when he was ordained to the episcopate[6] as Bishop of Singapore.