 He was educated at Rochester Cathedral Choir School, Sir Joseph Williamson's School, Rochester and King's College, London, where he gained his Associate of King's College (AKC) in theology in 1941 — he was later elected a Fellow of King's College (FKC) in 1972.He trained for the ministry at King's and at Lincoln Theological College.He was ordained a deacon on Trinity Sunday (31 May) 1942 and a priest on Trinity Sunday (20 June) 1943 (both times by Christopher Chavasse, Bishop of Rochester, in Rochester Cathedral), serving his title as assistant curate of St Luke's, Gillingham, Kent.