Holbrook attended theological college at Ridley Hall, Cambridge and was made a deacon at Petertide 1986 (29 June)[5] and ordained priest the Petertide following (5 July 1987), both times by Ronnie Bowlby, Bishop of Southwark, at Southwark Cathedral.
He also became chaplain of the South and East Dorset Primary Care Trust and, in 2004, the Rural Dean of Wimborne.
From 2006, he was also an honorary canon and prebendary of Salisbury Cathedral as well as priest-in-charge of Horton, Chalbury, Hinton Martel and Holt Saint James.
[4] On 4 March 2011, 10 Downing Street announced Holbrook as the Bishop-designate of Brixworth in the Diocese of Peterborough, in succession to Frank White.
[1] On 15 May 2015 it was announced that, from 1 September, Holbrook would be part-time acting Bishop of Leicester (during a vacancy in that See), retaining his post and duties in Peterborough.