He became a Benedictine monk at Durham, where he served as sacrist from 1265 to 1269. He was prior of Durham's dependent monastic cell at Finchale Priory by 1272.
As a monk at Durham's Benedictine community, he was responsible for administrative tasks as sacrist from 1265 to 1269. His role expanded when he became the leader of a smaller monastic community at Finchale Priory in 1272.