Charles was educated at Eton and then at Trinity College, Cambridge. He graduated in 1848. (The degree was in 1817 changed to M.A. which was achieved by spending a night in college and having dinner there. There was a fee. The award at the Oxbridge colleges still is not earned but is awarded by the above method)
In the two winters of 1814-1816, he ministered to the English congregation at Geneva, the home of his mother's family and her birth place. From 1816 - 1821 he was curate of Highclere Parish Church. In 1820, King George 1V wished to appoint him curate of WIndsor but the Prime Minister, Lord Liverpool objected. Charles received instead royal chaplaincy, librarianship and other preferments quickly followed until in 1826 he was consecrated Bishop of a Welsh See soon to be followed by the See of Winchester. In 1869 he retired and died in Farnham, Surrey in 1874. He edited and translated John Milton's On Christianity which work was found in the State Paper Office in 1823.
His eldest brother, John Bird Sumner was the Archbishop of Canterbury. He founded the New Zealand Company the intention of which was to claim New Zealand for Christ. A cross section of the population was offered land sold to them by the company at slightly more than the company had paid the New Zealand government. The extra money was used to by materials for the building of churches, schools and other municipal centres. The Main area was named Canterbury for the Archbishop and the main town, Christchurch after the Oxford College where the leader of the New Zealand Canterbury Pilgrims was educated.

• Married:

1. Charles SUMNER b: 11 MAY 1819 in Highclere, Hampshire, England
2. G.H. SUMNER
3. John M SUMNER