Fr Benedict Dullard 1795-1863

James Dullard was born at Kilkenny in 1795. He was professed as an Augustinian Friar, presumably in Ireland, and was ordained priest in 1823, wishing to join the Benedictine Order, he was allowed to take himself to St. Edmund's Priory, then recently established at Douay. There, after his year's novitiate, he made his profession (1832) for the Community of Lamspringe, which at that date was without a home of its own. After his profession he went in 1833 to Ampleforth and remained there until 1837. Although he was not as yet aggregated to St. Laurence's, he held some important offices in the house, as we learn from the Council-Book. He was Professor of Theology, a Councillor, and in the last year of his residence Subprior. Meanwhile the house of his profession had been re-established at Broadway in Worcestershire, whither he was summoned in 1837. But his stay at Broadway was a very brief one. In 1838 he went on the Mission in the South Province and was placed at Bungay in Suffolk. From there he was transferred in 1840 to Weobley in Herefordshire, a mission opened four years previously. The Broadway foundation was dissolved in 1841 and he then - like some others of the Lamspringe men - affiliated himself to St. Laurences's. In the same year he became Chaplain to the nuns of St. Benedict's Priory, Colwich, near Stafford. This office he discharged with great satisfaction to the Community of 22 years, and died at his post 12 November 1863, aged 68. By leave of Bishop Ullathorne, he was buried in the nun's cemetery.

That Fr. Benedict Dullard was deeply attached to the monastery of his adoption, and zealous for its interest both in things spiritual and temporal, may be gathered from two letters in his handwriting which survive. In the first of these (MS.262, No.179) he writes to Prior Cooper on 12 October 1852 as follows:-

'I regret exceedingly that I cannot join our Confrères in the celebration of St Laurence's Jubilee. Nothing but duty could prevent me from going to Alma Mater on the present occasion. It is indeed a source of much pleasure to me to know that such good Benedictine spirit prevails at the Monastery of St Laurence. When I look back to the time I first came to Liverpool, call to mind the several incidents connected with Ampleforth, dwell as I do on the especial Providence which has kept up our Monastery, & now compare the state of Alma Mater with Prior Park, I am indeed full of gratitude to God for his support of our Monastery. As Benedictines we have deep hold upon the feelings of the Catholics of England. The fault must our own if we do not increase and deepen that feeling by union among ourselves, and a generous determination to live up more and more to the spirit of our holy State. As the Community I have the happiness to serve is so much connected with the Catholic families of the North, I trust that you, my dearest Confrère, and others of the Community, will make acquaintance with the nuns of St. Benedict's Priory. I think you will find them all that you can wish in the way of union and kindness to the Benedictine Brethren. They too have had their difficulties. But God has wonderfully blessed and supported them in the day of trial. 'Floreat Alma Mater' is now the grateful feeling of my heart. Please to make my most affectionate remembrance to the President, to all our Confrères, and to all the members especially of your Community . Whenever you come here you can always count upon a hearty welcome. James Dullard.'

The second letter (MS.244, No.176) was written a few months before his death to the Ampleforth Procurator, Fr. Bede Prest, in answer to an inquiry concerning a sum of £200 of his savings which he had in 1857 deposited with Prior Cooper on interest. He writes:-

'How Fr. Cooper could think that it was a donation to the Church and not an investment I cannot make out. In justice to myself I could not think of doing so. This investment I regularly put down in my bill of Poverty. I have suffered much from bad health. When you acknowledged the receipt of the £97, which I sent to you, I was very ill. Since the last day of November 1862 I have been under medical treatment. But I begin to feel confident that my health will soon be quite re-established. If you think that has been any neglect on my part in giving you the necessary information in respect to my little investment in the College, please to excuse me...Do me the kindness of making my investment £300...Though there is much for me to see and examine at the dear Monastery of St. Laurence's, I do not know when I can have that pleasure. When I leave St. Benedict's Priory for the benefit of my health I go to Ireland. And after my return I must daily and regularly attend to my little duties. Make my kind compliments to Very Rev. Fr. Prior and the Community. I remain, dear Fr. Prest, your attached Confrère. James Benedict Dullard'.

BENEDICT DULLARD

Details from the Abbey Necrology