In 1913 he received his Bachelor of Divinity from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.
[1] From 1914 to 1918, Walker served several southeast Georgia towns as a Missionary Priest.
Finally, in 1918, he was called to be rector of St Paul's Church in Albany, Georgia.
In 1942 he was elected bishop of Atlanta and consecrated on September 29, 1942, St Luke's Church.
[2] John Walker was the 434th bishop consecrated in the Episcopal Church.