Amazingly, a few days after I learned of the deaths of David Iles and Geoff Hayman (see here for my tribute) I learned of the death of another old timer, Paul Bullivant, who knew well and had several dealings with both of them (I believe Paul went to school with Geoff and, like Geoff, served as a Counties evangelist). All of these men were much involved in the life of Coleman Street Chapel (formerly Gospel Hall), which had played a significant part in my life between 1964 and 2013. All made a big impact on my life and many others.

Inevitably, now I am septuagenarian, people I once knew well are dying around me on a regular basis. Some I haven’t seen for many a year. In Paul’s case, I had several dealings with him from my late teens until my late twenties, when Paul left Southend for pastures new in the late 1970’s. When it comes to those I had once had dealings with but haven’t done so for many years, some have made an impact, ranging from overall positive to overall negative, and some were more like ships that passed in the night. As for Paul, his impact was overall positive and to such an extent that although I have not been in contact with him since he left my city, and I know little of his life since that time, I still want to write about him.   

I’m hoping I will find out more, especially now that I post this tribute for all and sundry to read. But my efforts to find out more (often searches on the Internet in the past have generally revealed something) failed, other than being told he was living in Wales at the time of his death and that he was particularly frail in the years leading up to his death.  My first meeting with Paul was not long after I became a Christian, aged 15. I became a regular attender of the well attended, popular, weekly, young people’s Bible Class, led by the late Malcolm Heddle. On these occasions, different speakers would expound on some aspect of the Bible. Paul was one of them and he would also preach in the Sunday evening Gospel Meeting. I can’t remember much of what he said but do recall that he was somewhat deep. A little later he moved to Southend and became a much involved member of Coleman Street Chapel. Two activities concerning which he played a major role in organising around that time were the annual Castlerigg summer camp in the Lake District, that continues to this day, and when in those early days I sometimes attended, and a house group that was held in his home, which I also attended. Both of these activities positively impacted me.

I think it was in 1971 that the Dick Saunders evangelistic tent crusade came to Southend and it significantly affected the spiritual life of the town. I learned that there was a baptism service, at Coleman Street Chapel, for folk converted during the campaign and it was Paul who preached. Also, around that time, the Charismatic Movement came to town and it much influenced many across a range of denominations and the emerging house church movement. The movement did bring about a dissatisfaction with the mundane and a yearning for Holy Spirit led life. It was rather resisted by some of the leadership of Coleman Street Chapel but not Paul who, to the disapproval of some of the Chapel’s leadership, fully embraced many of the charismatic beliefs, including him being zapped by the Spirit and healed of a bad back. He continued with his house meeting and was a prime mover and leader in regular charismatic gatherings, which often attracted well known outside speakers. While not part of the inner circle of these mostly new charismatics, I was interested and involved to an extent although now, many years on, my views on what took place then are both a mixture of positive and negative.

I believe, due to the tensions arising out of the new expressions of freedom and the notion of haves and have nots (the Holy Spirit) pushed in the charismatic movement compared to that of more traditional Brethrenism that put great emphasis on holding sound doctrine and a dismissal of notions of a second blessing and that the New Testament (NT) sign gifts are for today, led Paul to cut his ties with the Chapel and to find fellowship elsewhere before moving out of the town (now city) altogether. I recall two amusing incidents specifically relating to Paul. Firstly, on one occasion I was being “put right” by an esteemed older brother that the Gospel of the Kingdom found particularly in Matthew’s Gospel, with its emphasis on miracles and good works, was more for Jews of the NT times rather than today’s Gentile believers. Paul disagreed and stated that our not seeing the Kingdom of God being manifest today was more as a result of a lack of spiritual life. On another occasion, I spoke with one of the elders, who I respected, concerning Paul’s new found views. He pointed out that Paul had just crossed the River Jordan and was still dripping wet! Later, said elder also got zapped!

One of the great things about being old and grumpy is that while I am beholden to exalt the Lord and encourage my brethren (charismatic and non, etc.) I am not required to exonerate any, for all have their faults, and that included Paul, despite seeing him for a time as one of my main heroes for rebelling against a status quo that clung to the shell of a glorious past that seemed to have little left for us today, demonstrating the Christian life was about today’s life as well as the light passed down to us by our spiritual forefathers (some of it was wrong anyway) and what was needed was true balance. The one who was deep and heavy in his preaching (and he could go on) became relevant and engaging, indeed a breath of fresh air. Often, he personally encouraged me (as he did, based upon the limited feedback that I have received, with many others), and because of that I will remember him with gratitude and celebrate his legacy.    

Update 15/11/2024

I have just come across a tribute website that offers memories of Paul: https://paulbullivant.muchloved.com/