 He incepted as a Master of Arts of the University of Oxford by special decree (1973) and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Letters by leave of the Faculties of History and Social Studies (1991).Before studying for ordination, he was tutor at the University of Cambridge and the Workers' Educational Association (1958–60).He was assistant chaplain to the University of London (1962–66), a tutor at the London School of Economics and Regent Street Polytechnic (1963–65), Lecturer in Government at the University of the West Indies, Trinidad (1966–73), Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Race Relations, London (1970–71), Official Fellow, Chaplain, and Tutor of Exeter College, Oxford (1973–78), a Senior Member of St Antony's College, Oxford (1976–96), Priest-in-charge, and later Vicar, of Church of St Mary and St Nicholas, Littlemore (1978–96), and Hulsean Lecturer at the University of Cambridge (1985–86).