From 1972 to 1975, Buckler was curate at Bushey Heath in
St Albans. He then became chaplain of
Trinity College, Cambridge from 1975 to 1981. In 1981, he moved to
St Paul's Cathedral to become minor canon and
sacrist; a post he held until 1986. Buckler was appointed vicar of
Hampstead in 1987, and he was also area dean of
North Camden between 1993 and 1998. He became a
canon residentiary of
St Paul's Cathedral, London, in 1999 before becoming
canon treasurer in 2000. On 26 September 2006, it was announced that Buckler was to be the
dean of Lincoln; he was installed on 3 February 2007 and retired on 31 January 2016.{{Church Times ==Styles==