In World War I, Carter was imprisoned in Wormwood Scrubs as a conscientious objector, and then spent time in Princetown Work Centre in the former Dartmoor Prison.

[5] From 4 September 1918 to 11 June 1919 he was a 'brother' on the staff of Wallingford Farm Training Colony, an institution run by the National Union for Christian Social Service for 'difficult' boys mainly referred by Boards of Guardians.

[6] In 1921, Carter was handed over leadership of Hampstead Bible School, originally to be on a temporary basis until a more suitable person was available to fill the opening.

Howard Carter left the Hampstead Bible School in 1948[9] and moved to the United States where he eventually married Ruth (Fisher) Steelberg.

She was the daughter of Elmer Kirk Fisher, who was the founder of the Upper Room Mission in Los Angeles, California.