 He entered Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge in 1755, and became a fellow in 1760.He took orders and was married in 1764 to Elizabeth Smythies (1739–1796), daughter of Palmer Smythies, rector of St Michael's, Colchester, who had taught him at Colchester Free Grammar School.Twining spent the remainder of his life as incumbent of All Saints Church, Fordham, Essex, and in plurality as vicar of White Notley (from 1772) and rector of St Mary's, Colchester (from 1788), where he lived from 1790 until his death on 6 August 1804.