Francis Fulford

Origins He was born at Sidmouth in Devon on 3 June 1803, and was baptised at Dunsford, Devon, 14 October 1804. He was the second son of Col. Baldwin Fulford (1775–1847) of Great Fulford in the parish of Dunsford, Devonshire, lord of the manor of Dunsford and an officer in the Inniskillen Dragoons and Lieutenant-Colonel of the Devon Militia, by his wife Anna Maria Adams, eldest daughter of William Adams (1752–1811), MP for Totnes, of Bowden House, Ashprington, near Totnes. The Fulford family is one of the most ancient in Devonshire and in England, and has been resident at Great Fulford since the 12th century.

Early life He was educated at Blundell's School in Devon and matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford on 1 February 1821. He was elected a fellow of his college 30 June 1824, but vacated his fellowship 18 October 1830 following his marriage. Fulford proceeded B.A. in 1827, and M.A. 1838, and was created an honorary D.D. 6 July 1850.

He was ordained a deacon in 1826, and became curate of Holne, Devonshire, afterwards removing to the curacy of Fawley. The Duke of Rutland instituted him to the rectory of Trowbridge, Wiltshire, in 1832, where he lived for ten years, and as a justice of the peace as well as a clergyman commanded respect and conciliated goodwill. In 1842 he accepted the rectory of Croydon, Cambridgeshire, which he held until 1845, when he was nominated by Earl Howe as minister of the Curzon Chapel in Mayfair, London.

Marriage and children In 1830 he married Mary Drummond, eldest daughter of Andrew Berkeley Drummond of Cadlands, Hampshire (a grandson of William Drummond, 4th Viscount Strathallan (died 1746)) by his wife Mary Perceval a daughter of John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont (1711–1770). By Mary Drummond he had children including his eldest son, Francis Drummond Fulford (1831–1907), who in 1871 on the death of his childless uncle Col. Baldwin Fulford (1801–1871), inherited Great Fulford and other estates in Devon, and was the great-grandfather of the present head of the family, Francis Fulford (born 1952), of Great Fulford.

Death and burial He died in the see-house, Montreal, 9 September 1868, and was buried on 12 September, when the universal respect which his moderation had won for him was shown by the bell of the Roman Catholic Church being tolled as the funeral procession passed. His inscribed stone memorial tablet exists on the north wall of the chancel of Dunsford Church in Devon.

Publications ‘A Sermon at the Visitation of Venerable L. Clarke, Archdeacon of Sarum,’ 1833. ‘A Course of Plain Sermons on the Ministry, Doctrine, and Services of the Church of England,’ 2 vols. 1837–40. ‘The Interpretation of Law and the Rule of Faith,’ an assize sermon, 1838. ‘The Progress of the Reformation in England,’ 1841. ‘A Pastoral Letter to the Clergy of the Diocese,’ 1851. ‘An Address delivered in the Chapel of the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States,’ 1852. ‘A Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Diocese of Montreal,’ 1852. ‘The Sermon at the Consecration of H. Potter to the Episcopate,’ 1854. ‘Five Occasional Lectures delivered in Montreal,’ 1859. ‘Sermons, Addresses, and Statistics of the Diocese of Montreal,’ 1865. Fulford's latest publication was ‘A Pan-Anglican Synod: a Sermon,’ 1867.