TRIBUTES have been paid to a vicar who gave almost 30 years of devoted service to an Ainsworth parish.

The funeral of Revd Ken Bullock was held at Christ Church Ainsworth on January 5, after he died at the age of 88 on December 19.

He was vicar at the church for 29 years before retiring to North Wales in 1991, where he ministered for the last time recently on Remembrance Sunday.

The church's current vicar, the Reverend Dave Thomson, said: "His ministry is remembered with affection by longstanding members of the congregation and villagers alike. Whether in one of the village pubs, a casual conversation in the street or even queuing in the local chippy, I’ve heard hundreds of stories, told with affection, about Mr Bullock. With his trademark pipe, he was every inch the traditional vicar.

"If someone was in hospital Ken would visit, whether they came to church or not, sometimes going beyond expectations, like the instance when he opened a can of beans and prepared tea for some children whose mum was in hospital.

"He would visit often and would keep his eyes open for removal vans. There are plenty who have told me that, while their furniture was still being carried in, Ken had turned up and invited himself in for a cup of tea.

"Riding on the sit-upon mower, it was his job to cut the churchyard grass. Rarely did anyone else get to use it. He also turned his hand to grave digging when the sexton, who became a good friend, needed a lift.

"It was Ken who wrote the definitive history of Ainsworth, a volume that is still used today.

"And it was Ken who saw the need to set up the Ainsworth Scout Group and it was good he could return to be with us a couple of years back for their 50th anniversary celebration.

"I am immensely grateful that we at Christ Church are still reaping the benefits of Ken’s ministry and hard work today, 25 years after he retired to North Wales."

Mr Bullock, whose father was also a vicar, attended Cambridge University and served in the Indian Army, where he saw active service in Burma and was part of the detachment that liberated Changi Prison.

He was also Rector of Openshaw for seven years before coming to Ainsworth and continued ministering long after his retirement, mostly at St David’s in Penrhyn Bay.

He is survived by his wife Margaret, son Michael, and two grandchildren, and was buried in the churchyard alongside his other son, Martin.

Paying their tributes, David and Peter Holden wrote: "While there are many people with differing memories and anecdotes of his time in the Parish, perhaps the common theme is that Mr Bullock was arguably the heart and soul of the village community.

"As such a big influence on our formative years, whether through village life, school, or the church, he will always be remembered with much love and affection."