 He followed his father into the church, being ordained deacon on 16 June 1717 and priest on 24 May 1719.He was Vicar of St Mary de Haura, New Shoreham, Sussex, from 23 September 1727 until 3 October 1728.Bowles was Rector of the parish of St Peter, Brackley, Northamptonshire for 37 years, from 1729 to 1766.