 His brother is Michael Urwin, who was Headmaster of Brighton Grammar School, a prestigious HMC independent school, from 1996 to 2013, and now serves as the Registrar for the Diocese of Melbourne since 2019.Urwin began theological study at the Trinity College Theological School, Melbourne in 1974, and was an ordination candidate for the Diocese of Melbourne.In 1976 Urwin moved to England where, following a short period living and working in London, he resumed studies in theology at Ripon College Cuddesdon.