Born and brought up in South Wales, he graduated in Law from Oxford University in 1978. After working for British Steel and the Plessey Company, he trained for the Baptist Ministry in Cardiff from 1986 to 1990. He was appointed Lecturer in Theology at the University of Wales & South Wales Baptist College until 1995, before acting as industrial Chaplain with Glamorgan Industrial Mission from 1998 to 2005. He was awarded a Phd in Philosophical Theology from Kings College, London in 2008.

Married to Georgia, with two children, he is a long standing fan of Cardiff City and is now also a keen supporter of Leyton Orient. He enjoys spicy food, Sudoku and crime fiction.