 He then studied at St John's College, Nottingham.He was ordained in 1975 and served for four years in the Diocese of London followed by two years in the Diocese of Northern Argentina for the South American Missionary Society (SAMS).With the onset of the Falklands War, Scriven and his family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas where he served Christ Episcopal Church, Little Rock as Assistant Rector for Education from 1982 to 1983.