James was educated at Nottingham High School and the University of Exeter. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science, he gained his Doctor of Philosophy in organometallic Chemistry before lecturing in chemistry at the University of Southampton.
Following his theological studies at Street John"s College, Nottingham, James was ordained in 1973 and began his ordained ministry with curacies at Highfield, Southampton and Goring-by-Sea. Following this he was Anglican chaplain at the University of East Anglia and then Vicar of East Ecclesfield before returning to Highfield. James became suffragan Bishop of Pontefract in 1998 and then became the diocesan Bishop of Bradford in 2002.
He was one of the rebel bishops who signed a letter against Rowan Williams" decision not to block the appointment of Jeffrey John as Bishop of Reading in 2003.
James retired on 14 July 2010.
