James was born in
Sidmouth,
Devon in the
United Kingdom. He studied at
Sherborne School in Dorset and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from
Oxford University. On 4 January 1986 James migrated to
Western Australia, initially to serve at
Port Hedland as student chaplain for the
Mission to Seafarers. After two years, he was sponsored by the
Anglican Diocese of North West Australia and ordained by Archbishop
Peter Carnley in June 1988. He served as assistant curate at
Northam for two years, before moving to the Parish of East Avon, centred on the wheatbelt communities of
Cunderdin,
Meckering,
Tammin and
Quairading. After further study in the United Kingdom, he served at
Yanchep;
Quinns,
Mindarie and
Butler; and then
Dianella which was his final appointment before being appointed to the episcopate. James is a
Tertiary in the Society of Saint Francis. ==Episcopal ministry==