 Born at Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire and educated at Dulwich College and Corpus Christi College, Oxford, he was ordained a deacon in 1909 and a priest in 1910.He married Mildred, oldest daughter of P. A. Ellis (sometime Vicar of St Mary-the-Virgin, Tothill Fields), and they had one son.His academic career began as a tutor at Keble College, Oxford (1909–1913).