Batson was born in 1977 in
Northolt. He was educated at
Southend High School for Boys, before studying
ancient and
medieval history at
Royal Holloway, graduating BA in 1999 and MA in 2000. He trained for the ministry at
Westcott House, Cambridge, and graduated with a BA in
theology from
Selwyn College, Cambridge in 2003. He served as curate in
Saffron Walden between 2004 and 2008, and in 2008 became Priest in Charge in
Boreham. In 2017, he became Team Rector of the
Epping Team Ministry, also serving as Area Dean from 2018, and also as World Church Partnership Officer, developing links between the diocese and the
Anglican Church of Kenya. He also served on the diocesan board of education and chaired the Epping Forest Schools Partnership Trust, an
academy trust. After his appointment as
Dean of Newcastle was announced on 14 July 2023, he was installed as Dean on 14 October. ==References==