Winterson akaberekerwa muManchester ndokugamuchirwa naConstance naJohn William Winterson musi wa21 Ndira 1960. Akakurira muAccrington, Lancashire, uye akakurira muElim Pentecostal Church. Akakurira kuva muPentecostal Christian mumishinari, uye akatanga kuparidza evhangeri nekunyora mharidzo pazera remakore matanhatu. Pazera remakore gumi nematanhatu, Winterson akabuda semusikana uye akabva pamba.
St. Catherine's College, Oxford