 Hill was born on 17 April 1949, to Arthur and Hilda Hill.He was educated at Wilmslow County Grammar School, Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge and at Ridley Hall, Cambridge.He was ordained a deacon at Petertide 1977 (26 June) and a priest the next Petertide (2 July 1978), both times by Donald Coggan, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Canterbury Cathedral.