Related somehow to his predecessor at Hereford, he served as a priest and papal judge as well as being an unsuccessful candidate as Bishop of St David's in Wales.
Also from this time comes Foliot's patronage of Robert Grosseteste, the theologian and future Bishop of Lincoln.
[1] Foliot had been one of three members of the cathedral chapter from Hereford sent to King Henry III's court to secure permission for the chapter to hold an election in 1219[1] Foliot was elected to the see of Hereford in June 1219 and consecrated on 27 October 1219[4] along with William de Goldcliff, the Bishop of Llandaff, at Canterbury.
[1] Foliot spent most of his tenure of office in his diocese, only rarely attending the royal court or being assigned governmental duties.
Foliot appointed his younger brother Thomas to offices in the diocese, first as precentor in the 1220s and then around 1230 as treasurer of the cathedral chapter.