 He was curate of St Mary and St Martin's Church, Blyth, 1894–1898.On 10 June 1896 he was best man at the wedding of Reverend F.W.Keene, vicar of St John the Baptist church, Misson, Nottinghamshire, where the bridal party wore satin, silk and velvet and carried gifts of gold, refreshments were provided by Buzzard of Oxford Street, and the married couple were to honeymoon on the Continent.