The deceased married in September 1912, the widow of the late Mr. Harold Brackenbury. Mr Bull was devoted to his church and parish, and will be greatly missed by his parishioners and a great number of friends round the countryside. He was fond of shooting and much enjoyed a day's sport. He had lived at Borley most of his life. He secured the name of Foyster from his mother's family, who are well-known in the county of Sussex, his grandfather being Rector of All Saints', Hastings. On his father's side he came from a long line of Rectors, one of his ancestors being Rector of Coggeshall between 1500 and 1600. Tattingstone, Suffolk, has a long list of Bulls as Rectors and Patrons. The Bulls inter-married with the Boys family in the i6th century. Catherine Bull married Sir John Boys, Dean of Canterbury, and founder of Jesus Hospital for poor members of the family. He was also private chaplain to Charles 1 and has a handsome marble monument to his memory in Canterbury Cathedral. The family coat of arms was granted to one, John Bull, citizen, of London, in the 14th century.
The Funeral - There was such a large attendance of parishioners and friends at the funeral on Tuesday afternoon that the little church of Borley could not accommodate them all and many had to follow the service standing in the Church. The coffin, of plain oak with brass fittings, upon which was placed the stole of deceased, was brought the short distance from the rectory to the church and met by the Bishop of Chelmsford, other surpliced clergy and the choir. It was immediately followed by the family mourners. Mrs. Bull(widow), Mr. A.R.G. Bull (brother), Mrs. Hayden (sister),Mr. E.G. Bull (brother), the Misses Freda, Ethel, Mabel, Constance, Milly and Kathleen Bull(sisters). Mrs. F.E.P. Bull(Pentlow), the Misses Bull (Pentlow cousins). Miss Brackenbury, Mrs Montague Fisher, Mr. Bernard Foyster (cousin), Miss Yelloly (step-daughter) and the maids from the Rectory. The clegy present included the Rev. Canon Smith, the Rev. Dr. Young R.D. (Birdbrook) Rev. T.H. Curling (Halstead), Rev. A.G. King (Pentlow), Rev. W. Kennelly (little Yeldham) ,Rev. R. Flynn (Belchamp St. Paul),Rev. W. Bankes-Williams (Glemsford), Rev. J.D. Barnard (Cavendish) Rev. H. M. Greening( Gestingthorpe) Rev. G.H.Bassets (Foxearth), Rev. S.T. Fisher (Lyston), Rev. H.R.Parmenter (Belchamp Otten) Rev. A.P.Pannall (Bulmer),Rev. W.Berry, Rev. H.Lawson Forster, Rev. E.Garret Johnson(Sudbury) and Rev. C.W.Brett(Ovington).
Amongst those noticed in church were Sir Geo. & Lady Whitehouse Lt. Col. McLeod Robinson, Mrs. Hamilton, Mr. David Ward (Foxearth), Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Mills, Mrs. Deeks, Mr. Wm. Bigg, the Misses Coote, Mrs. Holden, Misses Sikes, Mr. T. Miles Braithwaite, Mr. St. G. Burke, Mr. A.H.Canham, Mr, L. Hyde Parker, Capt.Yelloly, Mr. C.F.D. Sperling, Mrs. A.V.C. Lambert, Mrs. Fay, Major Finch White, Mrs. Kipling,, the Misses Byford, Dr. Higgens, Miss: V. Butcher, Mr. Heard, Mrs. Daniell, Mrs. Payne, Mrs. John. Nott, Miss Fisher, Miss Raymond, Mrs. Williams, Mr. T.W.Gardiner, Mrs..Flynn, whilst practically every family in Borley and Rodbridge was represented.An impressive little tribute was paid by the school children, who, as the coffin. was borne into the church, lined the path.
Bishop's tribute. - The service in church was mainly taken by the Rev. H.C.B. Foyster, c£ Coleman Atch, Sussex, a relative of the deceased, and it was opened with the singing of 'There is a land of pure delight'. The psalm, 'The Lord is my Shepherd' was chanted and after the hymn, 'On the Resurrection Morning' the Bishop delivered a short address, in the course of which he said there must have been many moving occasions in the long history of a parish like Borley, but he could not think there had been many more moving occasions than the present, when they met in order to show their profound respect for the life and ministry of one who had been rector for a period of 35 years. It was fitting, he felt they would all feel, that he should say a few words on an occasion like that. In recapitulating the Rev. H.F. Bull's life, the Bishop said he left Exeter College, Oxford, the year before he (the speaker) became undergraduate there. He was not surprised to find from enquiries he had. made of old Oxford friends who were contemporaneous with their late rector, that they were thoroughly devoted to him , for he was a man greatly beloved. What struck them more than anything else was the extraordinary love he had for that place. He loved Borley with a great love, it was the great passion of his life. Every bit of the church, everything connected with the parish, how much it was to him! When visiting in his last illness he had found that the one thing on his mind was his church and people. He was a kind, true and loyal friend and what could any of them wish to be said of them more, when their earthly life was over, than that he was a devoted friend. Their hearts went out to those who had lost one so near and dear to them, and their hearts went out to the people of that place who knew that a good and true friend had been taken from them.
The service concluded with the 'Nunc Dimittis'. Before the service Mr. B Ambrose played on the organ "0 rest in the Lord" and other suitable music, and as the mourners left the church, Mrs. Coe played a suitable funeral march. The committal rites at the graveside were recited by the Bishop and the coffin was lowered into a grave lined with evergreen and flowers, and situated near the remains of his father and mother. At the Close the hymn 'Abide with me' was sung.
THE WREATHS - There was a magnificent collection of floral tributes from all the members of the family. Bessie, "Dody", Mrs. Almack, Miss Almack, Dr. and Mrs, Owen Wisdom, Mrs. Holden, Miss Sikes, Mr. & Mrs, David Ward(Foxearth), Ivy, Mr. & Mrs. Wm Bigg, Miss Bigg, the Misses Goote, Hubert, Rev.S.T.& Mrs. Fisher, Sir Geo. & Lady Whitehouse, Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Brereton Foyster, Major & Mrs. J.A Daniell, Dr. & Mrs. Alexander, Monty and Katie, Mr. & Mrs. R. Pocklinton, Dr. & Mrs. R.W.Rix, Mr. T. Miles Braithwaite, Mr. & Mrs. White (Winchester), Miss. Alice M.Brown, Mrs. Harley (Guthrie) , Rev. & Mrs Leonard Baldwym, Mrs. Raymond (Castle Hedingham) ,Rev. W,& Mrs. Bankes-Williams and Miss Bankes-Williams, Mr. & Mrs. Collins (Stratford-upon- Avon), Mrs. Braithwaite, Violet, F.& E. Shipley, Mr. & Mrs. T. Byford, and family, Mr. & Mrs. Weller Pooley, Mrs. Kent, In. loving memory and respect of our daar Rector, from the school children. With sincere sympathy and grateful rememberance from all the parishioners of Borley. With deepest sympathy from the organist and all the members of Borley Church Choir. With great sympathy from all at Foxearth Hall. With With deep sympathy from the indoor staff at Borley Rectory. With deep sympathy and regret from all the parishioners of Rodbridge. With affectionate remembrance from Edith & Constance Foyster. With sincere sympathy from F.G. & E. Satow.
The whole of the funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. H.A, Bayfield of Kings St. Sudbury.
Typed in by the daughter of Mr and Mrs Finch of Borley. Mrs Finch used to be the maid at the rectory in Harry Bull's time.