He was born in Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire, England in 1853 to parents George and Elizabeth (née Housley). His father was a master bootmaker who had always been very involved with the Wesleyan Church and it is likely that this was the main factor which led him to become a missionary.
Strutt was the youngest of 6 children (3 boys and 3 girls). Strett married Katharine Osborn, youngest daughter of Doctor George Osborn, who served as General Secretary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society for 17 years. They went on to have two sons in 1884, Arnold Unwin & Raymond Hugh (presumed twins) while posted in Colombo.
In August 1890 Strutt was appointed as 2nd Minister for the Oxford Road Chapel in Rusholme, Lancashire, England.
This is a post he would hold with the church until 1893. Strutt died at the age of 58 in Newquay, Cornwall on 15 April 1911.
He had returned to England in 1887 due to poor health and this is likely to have been a factor in him passing away at a relatively young age.
