 His first appointment was in 1872 to the Congregational Church in Bungay, Suffolk.In late 1873 he left for South Australia aboard the "Stratton Audley", and was in May 1874 appointed to Clayton Congregational Church, in Kensington, South Australia, as successor to Eliezer Griffiths who had departed for Britain and America, and William Harcus, who had embarked on a career in journalism.During his tenure at the Clayton Church the congregation grew to such an extent that a new, larger church building was called for, and was built within a few years and officially opened on 17 May 1882.