[1] After his ordination to the priesthood, he served in the poorer parishes of central Manchester, and was appointed Vicar General for the Lancashire District.

After five years he left Ushaw and entered the English College, Rome on 3 November 1820 to continue his studies.

[4] His episcopal ordination took place at Salford Cathedral on 25 July 1851, the principal consecrator was Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman, Archbishop of Westminster, and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop William Bernard Ullathorne of Birmingham and Bishop William Wareing of Northampton.

[3][2][1] As the new bishop, Turner had to manage the influx of hundreds of Irish, who had fled the potato famines - increasing the Catholic population quite considerably.

Two religious congregations, the Sisters of the Cross and Passion and the Franciscan Missionaries of St Joseph (the Rescue Nuns) were also founded in the diocese during this time.