He became examining chaplain to Bishops Mackarness and Stubbs of Oxford, select preacher at Oxford 1885-6, Whitehall preacher 1887-8, and hon. canon of Christ Church 1887. A few weeks before his death, he accepted an official fellowship as dean of divinity at Magdalen College, Oxford, and when nominated simultaneously to examine in the final honour schools of theology and literce humaniores, accepted the latter post.