Background
Layng was the son of Doctor Henry Layng of Swatow, China, and nephew of Thomas Layng, headmaster of Abingdon School.
Layng was the son of Doctor Henry Layng of Swatow, China, and nephew of Thomas Layng, headmaster of Abingdon School.
He was educated first at Abingdon School (1900-1906) and then at Clifton College (1906-1911) before entering Balliol College, Oxford.
Abandoning his military career he was ordained (1932) and became curate of Berkeley and dock chaplain at Sharpness (1933), rector of Duloe, Cornwall (1934-1938) and chaplain and fellow of his old Oxford College (1938). He was deputy Chaplain-General to the Mediterranean forces (1945) and rector of Burnaby and Nunburnholme (1946-1948) and Archdeacon of York (1946-1947). Layng was chaplain to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II (1940-1951) and awarded an Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire (1924) and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1945).
Latterly he served as vicar of Kemble and Poole Keynes (1950-1955).
He dedicated the Second World War memorial at Abingdon School chapel (1949). His funeral was held at Street Mark Cheltenham on Friday 25 April 1958.