 The son of Rev J E Craven, Free Church of Scotland minister at Newhills, near Aberdeen, he went to Orkney in 1876 to be rector of the newly built Episcopalian St.Olaf's Church in Kirkwall, and stayed there until his death.He was made Doctor of Divinity at Aberdeen University in 1908.Craven was also the author of books on Hermetic alchemists, and mystic physicians including