Pulkingham, William Graham

(Sept. 14, 1926- Apr. 16, 1993). Charismatic leader. He was born in Alliance, Ohio. Pulkingham received his B.A. from the University of Western Ontario and his M.Div. from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in 1957. He was ordained deacon on June 20, 1957, and priest on June 13, 1958. In 1957-1958 he was deacon-in-charge at St. John's, Hitchcock, and St. Mark's, Alta Loma, Texas. From 1958 until 1960 he was a chaplain at the University of Texas Medical School. From 1960 until 1963 he was assistant minister at St. David's Church, Austin, Texas. From 1963 until 1974 Pulkingham was rector of the Church of the Redeemer, Houston, Texas, where he rose to fame as the parish became a showplace of charismatic renewal and social action. In 1974 he moved to Scotland where he established the Community of Celebration on Cumbrae Island. Its extension ministry, the Fisherfolk, traveled extensively to teach new hymns and liturgical settings for contemporary worship. His wife, Betty Jane Carr Pulkingham, was also a leader in this music ministry. While in Scotland, he was provost of the Cathedral of Isles and rector of St. Andrew's, Cumbrae. In 1980 Pulkingham returned to the United States and was associate rector of the Church of the Redeemer, Houston, 1980-1982. In 1982-1983 he was priest-in-charge of St. David's Church, Woodland Park, Colorado. In 1985 the Community of Celebration moved to Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Pulkingham's last position was general convenor of the Community of Celebration. He wrote Gathered for Power (1972), and They Left Their Nets (1973). Pulkingham died in Burlington, North Carolina.