Remembering Erroll Hulse (1931-2017)

On August 4^th,  the family informed us of the passing of Pastor Erroll Hulse in the Wetherby Manor Nursing Home. He had been cared for there recently, after suffering a stroke three and a half years ago.

Erroll was born in South Africa in 1931 and graduated in Architecture at Praetoria University. He was converted under the preaching of  the Welsh Evangelist, Ivor Powell and came, with his wife Lyn, to study at London Bible College as ‘a dogmatic Arminian’.

Through the lectures of Dr E. F. Kevan, the preaching of Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and the friendship of the Rev Iain Murray, he was greatly helped to accept the doctrines of grace. He later acknowledged that ‘it was the reading of the recently published commentary by Robert Haldane on Romans in five volumes (published by Jay Green) that cured me completely of Arminianism. By the end of Romans chapter three I was a firm five point Calvinist.’

With a growing conviction of the need for Reformed books, he joined with Iain Murray in the pioneer work of the Banner of Truth Trust, in 1957, acting as manager. In 1962 he accepted pastoral oversight of Cuckfield Baptist Church, continuing with the Trust until 1967, when he became full-time pastor at Cuckfield. While there he exercised a wide and varied ministry. In 1970 he launched Reformation Today magazine,  serving as editor until 2013. He also organised the Carey Conference which still meets in January each year.

After leaving Cuckfield in 1985, he was Pastor of Belvidere Road Church in Liverpool for three years before joining the pastoral team at Leeds Reformed Baptist Church, in which he served until his illness.

Erroll was characterised by warmth and enthusiasm. This was evident  in the preaching of the Gospel, in a great heart for evangelism, in the concern for revival, in worldwide mission interest and in the translation and distribution of Reformed writings. He was a gifted conference speaker and organised conferences all over the world. He will be particularly remembered as the inspiration behind, and the organiser of, conferences for black ministers in South Africa and elsewhere. It was during one such Conference that he took the severe stroke that handicapped him, but for three and a half years he continued his fervent interest in and prayer for mission work worldwide even from his sickbed, and was an encouragement to many who visited him.

We remember his family Sharon, Michelle, Neil and Joanne, who cared for him so lovingly. His wife Lyn predeceased him in 2013.

This year is the 60th anniversary of the formation of the Trust. We honour a colleague who was a blessing to all who knew him and played a vital role in that Reformed recovery, which has reverberated round the world.

‘Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them’ (Revelation 14.13).

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The Funeral and Service of Thanksgiving will be held at Cuckfield Baptist Church, Haywards Heath, RH17 5GP at 2pm on Monday 21 August (DV).