capill went to work in the aviation industry, and qualified as a pilot and an avionics engineer. later, capill decided to become a minister, and studied towards a bachelor of divinity degree at the reformed theological college in geelong, australia. he gained his degree in 1986. he returned to new zealand to complete an internship at wellington, and became a minister of the reformed church of dunedin in 1988. by june 1998 he was attending an anglican church in christchurch, but described himself as presbyterian by conviction. capill gained a law degree from the university of canterbury in 1997.