[1][2] Born in Bradford on 4 March 1929 he was educated at the University of Leeds, where he obtained a BA in 1950, LLB in 1952, and LLM in 1953 and at Cuddesdon College for one year (1955/56).
[3][4] Crowther taught criminal and constitutional law at Exeter College, Oxford, in 1952–55.
He was ordained deacon in 1956 and priest the following year, serving as curate at St. Philip and St. James' Church, Oxford, in 1956–58.
After a preaching tour in the United States and a period (1959–64) as a college chaplain at the University of California, Los Angeles, he became dean of St Cyprian's Cathedral, Kimberley, in South Africa in September 1964,[5][6] and then its diocesan bishop in 1965.
During part of his retirement he lived in France[12] before returning to California.