A mụrụ Winterson na Manchester ma Constance na John William Winterson nakweere ya na 21 Jenụwarị 1960. O toro na Accrington, Lancashire, ma zụlite ya na Elim Pentecostal Church. A zụlitere ya ka ọ bụrụ onye ozi ala ọzọ nke Pentikọstal, ọ malitekwara ikwusa ozi ọma na ide okwuchukwu mgbe ọ dị afọ isii. Mgbe ọ dị afọ 16, Winterson pụtara dị ka nwanyị nwere mmasị nwanyị ma hapụ ụlọ. N'oge na-adịghị anya mgbe nke ahụ gasịrị, ọ gara Accrington na Rossendale College, ma kwado onwe ya n'ọtụtụ ọrụ dị iche iche mgbe ọ na-agụ Bekee na St Catherine's College, Oxford. Ajụjụ: Ebee ka Lancashire kpebiri ịgụ Bekee?
St Catherine's College, Oxford