He was born at Otautau, Southland on 21 September 1941 and was educated at Street Therese"s Convent School, Invercargill (Dominican sisters) and at Marist Brothers" Primary and Marist Brothers" High Schools, Invercargill, before training as a priest at Holy Name Seminary, Christchurch, and Holy Cross College, Mosgiel.
He carried out further studies in London and Trier, Germany. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Massey University. Campbell was ordained a priest in Dunedin by Bishop Kavanagh on 27 June 1966.
He was Assistant Priest at Saint Joseph"s Cathedral, Dunedin and at Tainui in 1967, in Mornington 1970-1972, back at the Cathedral in 1972, in Invercargill 1973-1977, and in Georgetown 1977-1979.
He was Parish Priest at Bluff (1979-1986), at the Cathedral (1986-1992), at Green Island (1992-1995), at Waikiwi (1995-2000) and Rector at Holy Cross Seminary, Auckland (2001-2004). He was ordained Bishop for the Dunedin Diocese by his predecessor, Leonard Anthony Boyle at Dunedin"s Town Hall on 9 July 2004.
