born at 38 mottram street, stockport, cheshire on 9 august 1870, he was educated at cotton college, oscott, and the english college, rome. he was ordained to the priesthood on 10 march 1894 and same year came to shrewsbury to assist his uncle, then a canon at the cathedral there, serving as curate until 1897. he subsequently served the cathedral as priest-in-charge from 1897 to 1932, also as canon theologian from 1910, vicar general from 1925 and provost to the cathedral chapter from 1927.