his first post was as a curate at st leonard's, bridgnorth, where he served for four years, after which he was at doncaster. he was vicar of st thomas's, douglas, for a year, then successively vicar of rotherham, of st mary′s, beverley and of st paul′s, lorrimore square, before being appointed canon of york in 1888. he was appointed rector and rural dean of bath in 1895, where he was heavily involved with the restoration of bath abbey.