 From 1977–1980, Porter served his first curacy at Edgware Parish Church in the Diocese of London, and from 1980–1983 was curate at St Mary's Haughton Green in the Diocese of Manchester.From 1983–1987, he was priest in charge of Christ Church, Bacup, Lancashire, and was made vicar of that congregation in 1987.In 1991, he was made rector of Holy Trinity Platt Church, Rusholme, Manchester.