Coming to London was a return home for him.  He had spent his teenage years in the city at Sir Adam Beck Collegiate before heading to Trent University where he took his undergraduate degree in Psychology.  From there he took up residence at Trinity College, Toronto where he completed his Master of Divinity degree.  Following a short curacy at St. Paul's Thunder Bay, he was appointed rector of the parish of Malbay on the Gaspe Coast where he became active in social issues and education. His summers were spent working with the repertory theatre company at the Cathedral  in Quebec City and for a time was Artistic Director for Pheonix Theatre Workshops.  For a short period he was appointed Priest in charge of the Cathedral while they awaited the appointment of a new Dean.  

His next appointment took him north to La Tuque, a lumber and paper making town in central Quebec, where he taught high school and was chaplain to the Indian Residential School to make his living while serving a very small congregation at the parish church.

In 1979 the Bishop of Ottawa appointed him rector of Christ Church, Aylmer (across the Ottawa River from the Capital).  While in the diocese of Ottawa he served the parishes of Christ Church-Aylmer,  Holy Trinity- Hawkesbury and finally St. Mary the Virgin-Ottawa where he served for fifteen years.

During his time in Ottawa, Fr. Rae established ACCESS a social advocacy program now funded by the Quebec government, and helped to establish a substance abuse recovery home.

He is the author of "Care & Share Ministry for effective parish management and decision making".  He has edited a web-based magazine dedicated to Progressive Anglican  thought and has co-authored "Making the case for blessing same-sex unions in the Anglican Church" which has appeared in a number of media formats.

Fr. Rae is one of the founders of The Widening Circle, a grassroots organization dedicated to reclaiming a welcoming, inclusive Anglican Christianity. He is passionate about issues of social justice, active in communitiy ministries and in his spare time enjoys music, reading, cooking and spending time with his beagle "Peanut".