Born in Toronto, Ontario, son of Walter Edward Massey (and Susan Marie Denton Massey) and the grandson of the founder of the Massey agricultural manufacturing company, Hart Massey, he attended Saint Andrew"s College in Aurora, Ontario and the University of Toronto, where he became a member of The Kappa Alpha Society, before attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received a degree in engineering in 1923.
His religious programs were broadcast on Toronto radio stations both before and after World World War World War II He served in the Canadian House of Commons as a Conservative Member of Parliament for the Toronto riding of Greenwood from 1935 to 1949 and was, in 1938, an unsuccessful candidate at the Conservative leadership convention. Massey joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940 and reached the rank of Group Captain. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his efforts during the war in 1946.
After leaving politics, Massey became a priest.
Massey was a cousin of Canadian Governor General Vincent Massey and actor Raymond Massey. He was also a cousin of Canadian philosopher George Grant and 21st century Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff.
