 He was made a deacon in 1974 and ordained a priest at Petertide 1975 (29 June), by Eric Treacy, Bishop of Wakefield, at Wakefield Cathedral, serving his title (curacy) at Kirkheaton, West Yorkshire (1974–1977).He then became curate-in-charge (1977–1982) and then incumbent (1982–1985) at the Church of the Redeemer, Blackburn, before taking up an appointment as Assistant Home Secretary for the General Board for Mission and Unity (1985–1989, during which time he was also licensed as an honorary curate at Forty Hill, London) and Executive Secretary for the British Council of Churches' Evangelism Committee (from 1986).Finally (before his appointment to the episcopate) he moved to Merseyside to be Vicar of Roby, during which time he was also Area Dean of Huyton (from 2002) and an honorary canon of Liverpool Cathedral (from 2003).