He was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, and studied engineering at King's College, Cambridge, gaining his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1982.

He worked in the electric power industry, then Arthur Andersen Management Consultants (now Accenture) until 1989 when he went to train for the priesthood at Cranmer Hall, Durham, whence he gained a further BA (in Theology) in 1991 and his doctorate (Doctor of Philosophy, PhD) from Durham University in 1995.

He became a lecturer in systematic theology at St John's College, Durham (of which Cranmer Hall is a part), while serving two titles/curacies.

He was ordained to the title of St Cuthbert's Church, Durham[3][4] and then served a curacy at Sherburn, Pittington and Shadforth from 1997.

Innes condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has persistently urged all Christians to unite in prayers for peace.

[8] He abstained during a vote on introducing "standalone services for same-sex couples" on a trial basis during a meeting of the General Synod in November 2023; the motion passed.