James Hannington was born in Sussex on September 3rd, 1847, and was educated at Temple School in Brighton. For six years, he assisted his father in the warehouse business. The family became members of the Church of England in 1867, and the following year, Hannington entered St. Mary Hall, Oxford, where he obtained his BA and MA degrees.

Following his ordination at Exeter, Hannington served as a curate in his native town until, in 1882, he offere…