Fr Owen Whiting was educated at Fitzwilliam House Cambridge, gaining his Bachelor's degree in 1937 and his Master's in 1941. His theological training was at Lincoln Theological College and he was ordained in the Peterborough diocese, serving a curacy at St John the Baptist church, Peterborough. in 1942 he became Chaplain of Denstone College until he went to Queen's Theological College, Birmingham in 1948. In 1951 he  was Rector of St Philip's, Hulme and All Saints Chorlton-0n-Medlock. Fr Whiting was appointed Priest Vicar of Truro Cathedral and Chaplain of Truro Cathedral School in 1958 until his appointment as Vicar of St Saviour's in 1961.