 He was educated at Nottingham High School and later studied classics and theology at Jesus College, Cambridge.He was ordained priest in 1931 and thereafter held a number of different posts, such as chaplain (1932–1936) and dean (1945–1955) of King's College London, and warden of Keble College, Oxford (1956–1960).He was appointed chaplain to King George VI (1948–1952) and Queen Elizabeth II (1952–1959).