Charles Binet was born in Juvigny, France, and was educated at the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice, Paris, and at the Seminary of Notre Dame des Champs. He was ordained on October 22, 1893, in Soissons. He worked in the diocese doing pastoral work until 1895. He served as a faculty member of the Seminary of Soissons until 1914, during which time he was also appointed as Diocesan archivist in 1900. He served in the French Army during World War I. He was appointed vicar general and archdeacon of the diocese of Laon on 13 February 1919.