James FULLERTON

FULLERTON, JAMES (b. Aghadowey, Londonderry, Ireland, 11 Jan 1807; d. Sydney, NSW, 3 July 1886). Presbyterian minister

The son of a minister, he studied at Belfast's Royal Academical Institution and Glasgow University and was ordained and inducted to Benburb, Co Tyrone, 2 Dec 1836. J D Lang (q.v.) recruited him and he arrived in Sydney on the Portland, 3 Dec 1837. He ministered at Windsor and Richmond before being sent to develop a predominantly Irish congregation in Sydney, Pitt Street South, where he ministered for the remainder of his life. He was a leader of the 'established' Synod of Australia and vigorously supported the deposition of Lang in 1842 and opposed his inclusion in the reunited Presbyterian Church in 1864-65.

Unbendingly orthodox in theology, markedly evangelical in his preaching and strongly sabbatarian, Fullerton alienated many by his sharp tongue, inflexible attitudes to church reunion and his eagerness to marry any couple who could afford his fees. When his voice failed in 1868, he made over his congregational stipend to an assistant but retained his state stipend. He began a branch church at Botany. His preaching, sound in content, was very poor in style and slowly emptied his church.

He married twice and had six sons and four daughters. He owned considerable property, but showed social concern through support for ending transportation, shorter hours for shop assistants, and helping various educational and philanthropic causes. He was awarded an Hon LLD by Marischal College Aberdeen in 1842 and an LLD (ad eund) by Sydney University in 1882. He died of pneumonia.

ADB 4; B J Bridges, Ministers, Licentiates and Catechists of the Presbyterian Churches of New South Wales 1823-1865 (Melbourne, 1989)

MALCOLM D PRENTIS

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