in june 1924, chilton was ordained deacon and became deacon-in-charge of st paul's church in hanover, virginia. a year later, in june 1925, he was ordained priest by bishop william cabell brown of virginia. he was appointed rector of the same church in 1925 and served there till 1941. he also served as rector st peter's church in talleysville, virginia from 1928 till 1938. from 1941 to 1954, he served as secretary-treasurer of the diocese of virginia, and then in 1954 became the archdeacon of virginia, a post he retained till 1960.