Born in
Prestbury,
Gloucestershire, Fraser's father was an unsuccessful
merchant who left his wife and seven children in penury when he died in 1832. Fraser was brought up by his grandfather in
Bilston,
Staffordshire, then at various schools, including
Bridgnorth Grammar School. He finished his education at
Shrewsbury School and then
Lincoln College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1839. His limited funds and the continual competition for bursaries entailed a scholastic life only relieved by his passion for
athletics. He loved
horses and
hunting but found it difficult to finance the lifestyle. Elected a fellow of
Oriel College, Oxford, in 1840, he worked tutoring and in the library before taking
deacon's orders in 1846 and giving up his passion for hunting. After some parochial work in
Oxford, he was ordained a
priest in 1847 before becoming
rector of
Cholderton,
Wiltshire. He continued his
educational work as a tutor and as occasional examiner. In 1858, he served on the
Royal Commission on education and in 1860 became rector of
Ufton Nervet,
Berkshire, soon establishing a reputation as an able church manager. He travelled to the United States and Canada in 1865 on a commission to examine education there and his insightful report enhanced his reputation as a social analyst and leader of church opinion. Though he was offered the post of
Bishop of Calcutta he turned it down. In 1867 he was appointed by the
Home Secretary to a commission on
child labour in
agriculture and further enhanced his reputation in policy development. ==Bishop of Manchester==