Joe was educated at Openshaw Technical College, College of Science and Technology, Manchester, and then spent 3 years at the London College of Divinity Combined London Theological Seminary.

He was consecrated as a Stipendiary Reader at Manchester Cathedral in 1963.

From January 1966 to 2002, Joe served worked with Church Planting River Ministries in Brazil as Lecturer and Dean of Students at the Evangelical Christian Seminary of North Brazil.

In 2002 Joe retired and returned to Lymm.

He has been married to Irene for 41 years and they have 2 children, Joanne and Nigel.

Joe retired in late 2004.