[2] In February 1927, he successfully underwent an exam and interview to win a scholarship to Brasenose College, Oxford: he was the only candidate that year.

[1] In 1930, he graduated from the University of Oxford with a first class honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in theology; he did not sit the final exams for music.

[1] However, he chose to train for ordination and entered Ripon Hall, an Anglican theological college in 1930.

In 1932, he spent the summer term at Marburg University in Germany where he studied under Rudolf Bultmann and Karl Budde.

[1] Sparks was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon on 24 September 1933 by Thomas Strong, the Bishop of Oxford,[1] and as a priest in 1934.

[4] From 1933 to 1936, he combined his curacy at All Saints Church, Oxford, and a position as an honorary chaplain of Ripon Hall.

[1] He resigned from Ripon Hall in 1936 because of the increasing influence of the Modern Churchmen's Union on the theological college.

He was interviewed for the Samuel Davidson Professorship of Old Testament Studies at the University of London, but was not successful.

[1] He developed the theology syllabus and expanded the department's academics to create an ecumenical faculty;[2] this included the first Roman Catholic, H. Francis Davis (Vice-Principal of Oscott College) as a visiting lecturer.

[4] In November 1951, Sparks was elected Oriel Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture at the University of Oxford.

On 28 November, his funeral service was held at Canterbury Cathedral and he was buried in New Romney, Kent.