woodward was educated at marlborough school and jesus college, oxford, obtaining a second-class degree in literae humaniores in 1901. after ordination, he served as lecturer at wycliffe hall, oxford and chaplain of wadham college, oxford before becoming rector of st saviour's with st peter's, southwark. he was an army chaplain in the first world war, during which time he was wounded and won the military cross. in 1918, he became rector of st peter's, cranley gardens, in the west end of london, becoming a canon of westminster abbey and rector of st john's, smith square in 1925. he became bishop of bristol in 1933 and in 1946 became bishop of gloucester. he died on 14 april 1959.