Campling was born on 4 July 1925 and educated at Lancing College and St Edmund Hall, Oxford. Ordained in 1952 he began his career with a curacy in Basingstoke after which he was a Minor Canon at Ely Cathedral. He was then appointed Chaplain of his old school. Later Vicar then Rural Dean of Pershore, his next appointment was as Archdeacon of Dudley in 1975 — a post he held jointly with his role as Director of education for the Anglican Diocese of Worcester and priest-in-charge of St Augustine's Church, Dodderhill, Droitwich. Then, in 1984, he was appointed Dean of Ripon. An eminent author,after 11 years he retired to Worthing where he wrote his memoir, I Was Glad. He continues to preach and lecture occasionally.
