"[1] After a preparatory education in several good grammar schools, he entered Trinity College, Cambridge in 1669, but his residence there was not long, because of "the terms of conformity being strait.
His gave his account of his sojourn at the University of Glasgow in a little note-book, which he called "Chorleyana, or a Register commemorating some of the most remarkable passages of Clod's providence towards me from my nativity, by Josiah Chorley."
[2][3] Chorley succeeded John Collinges as one of the ministers of the Presbyterian congregation at Norwich.
Chorley's ministry in Norwich was marked by his zeal in catechetical instruction, which gave rise to his very curious compendium of the Bible in verse.
He is said to have bequeathed a large sum of money, to be divided between the Presbyterian minister and the poor at Preston, but nothing is now known of this endowment.
Chorley has been confused with his son (according to Browne, his nephew) Richard, who was educated in the academies of Frankland at Rathmell Academy (entered 3 April 1697) and John Chorlton at Manchester (entered 16 March 1699), and ministered at Filby near Yarmouth (till 1722) and Framlingham (till 1731).