The Revd G.H. Preston's tenure was short, probably because of misunderstanding at the time of his appointment, though the ill-health of his wife, Eleanor, may have been a contributing factor.

Born into comfortable family circumstances in Walby, Lancashire, and related to Bishop John "Coley" Patteson, he was educated at Hertford College, and gained his BA (1884) and MA (1893) from Oxford University. He was ordained Deacon in 1885 at Colchester and Priested two years later in Winchester.

He became Curate of Great Wigborough in 1885, moving in 1886 to be Curate at Hale, Surrey for two years, when he sailed for New Zealand to become Vicar of St Andrew's Church, (Port) Ahuriri, Hawkes Bay.

The Revd Preston was installed as Vicar of St Mary's Cathedral Church on 1st May 1890, resigning on 4th April 1892 and leaving for England 10 days later.

He became curate of Ewell, and Vicar of Fleet in 1893, and was Rector of Old Alresford from 1913 - 1936. The last record of him shows that he was residing in Alresford in 1941.