[3] Laurie Green was born in Newham in the East End of London, the son of a bus driver and factory worker.

He was educated at East Ham Grammar School and King's College London (BD, AKC) and then at the New York Theological Seminary (STM, DMin).

He also worked as Assistant Youth Officer for the diocese and as Industrial Chaplain to the British Steel Corporation (Bromford Tubes Division).

At the same time he became an honorary lecturer at the Urban Theology Unit, Sheffield University;[6] For seven years, he was the principal of the Aston Training Scheme for Anglican ordinands, before returning to East London to become, before his ordination to the episcopate, team rector of All Saints, Poplar.

[2][8] Within the Diocese of Chelmsford, Green's Episcopal Area of Bradwell covered such towns as Basildon, Tilbury Docks, Southend, Maldon, Brentwood and Chelmsford as well as the deep rural areas of the Dengie peninsula where a stone chapel was built by St Cedd in 654 AD in Bradwell.

A jazz devotee, blues and classical guitar player and lover of folk music,[14] Green continues to give public concerts and produce CDs.