He was born in Wandsworth, London and educated at Hertford College, Oxford.
[1] He studied for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford before a curacy in Leeds (at Wrangthorn St Augustine).
He was made a deacon at Michaelmas 1929 (22 September) at his title church[2] and ordained a priest in Advent 1930 (19 December) at Ripon Minster — both times by Edward Burroughs, Bishop of Ripon.
[3] From 1935 — in which year he announced his engagement[4] — he was Vicar of All Saints', Highfield, Oxfordshire[5] and then from 1943 of St Cuthbert's Church, Darlington.
He was consecrated a bishop on 2 February 1962, by Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey.