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West Briton and Royal Cornwall Gazette,
Thursday 20 Aug 1964, page 9 column 1

Truro Sisters inspired his Career – Blind Clergyman
In the death of the rev Edgar FAULL, aged 72tyrs, which occurred on Thursday at the Epiphany Rest and Convalescent Home, St Agnes, Cornwall, lost a well-known clergyman who had given much devoted service in spite of having been blind for 40 years.

A native of Blackwater, Mr FAULL was the youngest (he wasn’t!) son of the late Mr and Mrs Thomas FAULL of Carnhot.  After leaving school he joined the staff of Redruth Clothing Company.  In early life he was, like his parents, associated with the little Methodist Chapel at Wheal Busy.

His decision to join the Anglican Church and to take Holy Orders is said to have been greatly influenced by the profound impression made upon him by the devotion and sacrificial service of the sisters from the Community of the Epiphany, Truro, when he was a patient in their convalescent home at St Agnes.  The objective of the home then was the restoration to full health of working men after illness.  Of late years, the home has become a place of residence for elderly and infirm patients of both sexes, and is still in the charge of a sister from the Community.

In 1921, Mr FAULL went to Chichester Theological College.  He was ordained deacon in 1923 and priest in the following year in Manchester Cathedral by Dr. William TEMPLE, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury.  Early in his Ministry his sight began to fail and he became blind in a short time. He learnt Braille and was able to exercise a full ministry in the devotional, and social life of the parishes he served.  His first Curacy was that of St Margaret, Burnley, from 1923 to 1925.  The next two years he spent as Curate of St Agnes and from 1927 to 1935 he was Curate of St Peter’s Newlyn West.

While assistant priest at Newlyn he took services at St Hilary Parish Church during the period of the religious disturbances and disputes there.  His patience and Christian friendship to all parties enabled him to mediate and help greatly in the restoration of peace to the parish.  From 1935 Mr FAULL was granted permission to officiate in the diocese of Truro, and he served temporarily in a number of parishes including at All Saints at Herodsfoot.  He was also Chaplain of St Francis House at Bodrean Truro, which cared for homeless wayfarers between the two Wars.

For a number of years Mr FAULL had made his home at the Epiphany Home at St Agnes, where his spiritual ministrations and pleasing personality were greatly appreciated by other residents.  Since retiring to St Agnes he had been an honorary assistant priest of the parish of Redruth and had assisted at services there.

Mr FAULL was unmarried.  He is survived by his brother Mr M. FAULL (Reginald Melville) of Penzance, and by his two sisters, one of whom, Miss Hilda FAULL, is on the staff of the Convent of the Epiphany, Truro.

Personal Tributes
Mr F MITCHELL, Redruth (a lay reader and a close personal friend) says in a personal appreciation, “We remember with thankfulness his love for this parish of Redruth, its people and its two churches, and thank God for his life of service here and elsewhere, and for his example of patience and cheerfulness under affliction.”

Reference to Mr FAULLs passing was made by the Vicar (the Rev F A SADLER) and the Rev R J FOSTER on Sunday at St Agnes Parish and Methodist Churches.

The coffin was rested over Sunday night in St Andrews Church, Redruth.  Vespers for the dead were recited by the Curate, (the Rev J E PROTHEROE), who also officiated on Monday at early Requiem.  The funeral service was conducted later by the rector of Redruth (the Rev J RUSCOE).  Mr F MICHELL was cross bearer.  The 23rd Psalm and the hymns ‘Abide with me’ and ‘Jesus Lives’ were led by the choir.  The Rev E J SAUNDERS (vicar of Feock) read the Lesson, and at the close Mr L C MILLINGTON, the organist played the Hallelujah Chorus.

The Rector, who had interrupted his holiday to pay his last tribute to a departed friend, said in his address that the whole of Mr FAULL’s ministry had been marked by the way in which he accepted the loss of his sight, and the use he made of that affliction for the continuance and fulfilment of his ministry.  They would all find it very hard to accept blindness, but Mr FAULL had converted something evil into good. It was through his effective work at St Hilary that the Parish was reconciled.  Throughout his ministry by his willingness to accept suffering and affliction, his patience and his lover had influenced the lies of far more people than he would ever know.  Saying that it was always a tremendous help to talk with him, Mr RUSCOE said he never came away from Mr FAULL without feeling greatly humbled.

Mr PROTHEROE conducted the committal service at Penmount Crematorium.

Mourners
Mourners were
Mr Reginald Melville FAULL (brother),
Mrs Lena UREN ( nee ANDREWARTHA nee FAULL) and Miss Hilda Winifred FAULL (sisters),
Mrs L HITCHINGS and Miss Angela Graver FAULL (nieces),
Mesdames L I and R M FAULL (sisters-in-law),
Mr L HITCHINGS (nephew),
Miss E M FAULL (cousin),
the Reverend Mother of the Community of the Epiphany, Truro,
Mr and Mrs W G FRIGGENS,
Mrs N A PHILLIPS,
Mr Brian LEIGH.

Other Clergy attending were the
Rev A C JOHNSON (Redruth),
F A SADLER,
H G BLOMFIELD and
G T ROBERTS (St Agnes),
H P JUDD (Chaplain to the Community of the Epiphany Truro),
R J S MACKENZIE (Tillington, Petworth, Sussex) and
Mrs MACKENZIE, E HALL (St Day) and
F MADDOCK (Boscastle).
the rev R J FOSTER (minister of St Agnes Methodist Church) also attended.

Representing the home at St Agnes were Miss M FIDLER and Messrs F JENKIN and R A BOWDEN.

St Agnes Parish Church was represented by
Mesdames R W GLOVER, W H WATERS, F J COOMBE, J CORBETT, Baly JONES, E L BROWN-SMITH, and G BENNETT,
the Misses M P PERMEWAN, W E L FORTESCUE, B C MROOSMALE-COCQ and C KNIGHT,
Messrs H STOWELL, and R J DIBBS (wardens), W M ANDAIN (late warden), W H REPPER, A FLEET, W T GANDY (Hon Sec CEMS) K J YOUNG and R E COLERIDGE,
Mrs K JOHNSTON,
Messrs J BERRYMAN, J E TREDINNIXK, J R BENNETTS and J M JENNINGS attended as representatives of St Agnes Methodist Church.

Also present were
Sisters Etheldreda and Grace (Community of the Epiphany)
Mesdames A WOOLCOCK (Bristol), C BINNING, J C JACKA and G MUNDY,
Miss S M J SALMON,
Messrs N C DAVIS (warden St Andrews Redruth), W MORLEY and W L JULEFF (St Andrews) A H ROBERTS (Truro, H M TREVELLYAN (St Stephens, Treleigh), G TAMBLYN and A O TABB (Perranporth),
F F CLATWORTHY, C HARRIS, L A TABB and J BURRELL,
Mr and Mrs A G MEATS (Portreath).

Choir members of St Andrews attending were
John MARTIN,
Malcolm WILLIAMS,
Ted and Christopher HOSKING,
David and Nigel MADDERN,
Lester JACKA, Philip MEYERS,
Terry and Derek TONKIN,
Christopher EDDY,
Michael JEFFERY,
Alan PASCOE,
Messrs G H CLEAK and H ALTY.

Chosen bearers were Messrs H R WATERS, F C LANGFORD, E PEARCE and F G DOCKING – Undertaker Mr M HELLYAR.

The floral tributes included those from “Your Family” at the Epiphany Rest and Convalescent Home and from the Sisters of the Community of the Epiphany, Truro, “with abiding remembrance of a faithful priest and friend”.

There had been a request that family flowers only be sent, and that donation in lieu could be made to the development fund of the Epiphany Home, St Agnes.

There was also a Requiem at St Peters Church, Newlyn West, on Monday morning, and last evening Requiem Eucharist was celebrated at All Saints Church Herodsfoot.