Graham Pulkingham
Encyclopedia
The Reverend W. Graham Pulkingham (September 14, 1926 - April 16, 1993) was the rector at the Church of the Redeemer in Houston, Texas, from 1963 until 1975. He and his wife Betty began the developments that led to the founding of the Community of Celebration and the worship band The Fisherfolk. He wrote several influential books including They Left Their Nets, and spoke worldwide at meetings and conferences.
at the Church of the Redeemer in September 1963 and found it in a very poor state. Few people attended, and although the institutional forms were still carried out weekly, there was a sense of terminal decay. By 1966 there was a thriving community providing practical and spiritual needs and reaching out to the people living in the surrounding area. And by 1972 the average weekly attendance figure had reached 2,200.
The Church of the Redeemer, unable to carry out the extensive repairs needed on the building, closed in 2011 with a congregation of 70. However, while the physical church building closed its doors, the congregation continues to worship and minister to the community. They are currently sharing a worship space with a nearby Lutheran church.
, writing a number of books, recording teaching cassettes, and speaking at many international events. In 1972 Graham Pulkingham moved to Scotland where he set up a community at the Cathedral of the Isles
in Millport
on the Isle of Cumbrae. The Community of Celebration begun by him and his wife is still in existence.
Birth, childhood and education
W. Graham Pulkingham was born on September 14, 1926, in Alliance, Ohio, and brought up in Ontario, Canada. He pursued graduate studies in music at the University of Texas and later received his training for the priesthood at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. He graduated in 1956 after having served in the U. S. Navy during the Korean War.Building up a run down church in Houston
Graham Pulkingham took over as rectorRector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
at the Church of the Redeemer in September 1963 and found it in a very poor state. Few people attended, and although the institutional forms were still carried out weekly, there was a sense of terminal decay. By 1966 there was a thriving community providing practical and spiritual needs and reaching out to the people living in the surrounding area. And by 1972 the average weekly attendance figure had reached 2,200.
The Church of the Redeemer, unable to carry out the extensive repairs needed on the building, closed in 2011 with a congregation of 70. However, while the physical church building closed its doors, the congregation continues to worship and minister to the community. They are currently sharing a worship space with a nearby Lutheran church.
International ministry
The work at Houston became widely known through speaking engagements and publications. Out of this grew a developing international ministry of praise and worship, community living, music, and a worldwide teaching and preaching role for Graham Pulkingham throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He was influential in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand between 1970 and 1975, encouraging Christians there to recognise their part in the worldwide renewal of the time.Leading figure in the Charismatic movement
He was one of a number of key people involved in the early days of the Charismatic movementCharismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
, writing a number of books, recording teaching cassettes, and speaking at many international events. In 1972 Graham Pulkingham moved to Scotland where he set up a community at the Cathedral of the Isles
Cathedral of the Isles
The Cathedral of The Isles and Collegiate Church of the Holy Spirit is a cathedral of the Scottish Episcopal Church in the town of Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae. It is one of the two cathedrals of the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles, the other being St John's Cathedral in Oban...
in Millport
Millport, Isle of Cumbrae
Millport is the only town on the island of Great Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde off the coast of North Ayrshire, Scotland. The town is four miles south from the Largs-based Caledonian MacBrayne ferry slipway....
on the Isle of Cumbrae. The Community of Celebration begun by him and his wife is still in existence.