Rector - Walter Herbert Bullough
Walter Herbert Bullough (Bert) P3XG-LG7 was born in Ashton in Makerfield, Wigan on 5th July 1915 to Catherine Ogden and Walter Herbert Bullough, a general manager at the Co-operative Society in the grocery department. According to the 1921 census, the family were living at 536 Bolton Road, Bamfurlong, Wigan.
By the time the 1939 Register for England was taken, Bert was a curate living at the Vicarage, Parsonage Road in Widnes. In 1943 he married Joan Mary Simpkin. Joan and her family lived in Hindley, Wigan. She had qualified as a dentist in the late 1930s and was an assisting dental officer for Local Government in 1939. Her brother was also a dental surgeon in a private practice. Their interest in medicine may have been inherited from their mother’s side of the family as her occupation was that of a midwife. Joan’s father worked in one of the local collieries as an under manager.
Before coming to Halsall, Reverend Bullough had been the vicar at St. Matthew’s Church, Highfield, Wigan; this church had been built by Colonel Henry Blundell Hollinshead Blundell in 1892-94 to commemorate his wife, Beatrice (a lady in waiting for Queen Victoria). Colonel Blundell’s brother, Reverend Thomas Blundell Hollinshead Blundell had been a popular rector at St. Cuthbert’s, Halsall from 1863 until his death in 1905. Both of these churches were under the patronage of the Blundell family.
Having been presented by the patron, (Major Victor Blundell of La Mancha Hall) Reverend Bert Bullough was instituted into St. Cuthbert’s church as the rector on 31st October 1959, by the Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend Dr. C. A. Martin.
At the ceremony, the Bishop informed the congregation that Rev. Bullough was the Rural Dean of Wigan and ‘one of the best parish priests in the Liverpool diocese’. He had been ordained 20 years previously and therefore brought a wealth of experience to Halsall.
Reverend Bullough remained Halsall’s rector for the next 30 years, until 1989. On his retirement, he and Joan moved to Churchtown near Southport.
He died on 8th June 2000, aged 84 years old; his funeral service was held at St. Cuthbert’s church, Churchtown on 16th June 2000. Joan passed away the following year.
