[1][2] Peter Birkeland was born in Borgund Municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway.

His father was the chaplain at Borgund Church at the time of his birth and his maternal grandfather had also been a priest.

[2][4] Peter Birkeland started his professional career as a priest in the Church of Norway in 1833.

In 1837, he was called to be the Dean of the Namdal deanery in Nord-Trøndelag county, a post he served until 1841.

He served in Hetland Municipality from 1848 until 1864 when he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Bjørgvin, based in Bergen.