A COMPASSIONATE rector who died 214 years ago is to be remembered in a service in a Herefordshire parish church.

Each year from now, on the Sunday nearest to the date of February 18 the people of Ullingswick will be honouring the Rev. Dr Thomas Talbot.

He had been the Rector there for 50 years before his death in February 1789 but it is his connection with Hereford General Hospital, now closed, that has inspired the parochial church council to pay tribute to him in future years.

Dr Talbot, who spent most of his working life in Ullingswick and surrounding rural areas is buried under the altar in St Luke's Church and his name recorded on a tablet on the floor of the sanctuary immediately before the altar.

It also names him as a founder of the old infirmary in Hereford.

Dr Talbot was a compassionate man and while carrying out his duties became increasingly concerned about the agricultural community and the hardships, approaching starvation levels, being suffered by the people.

He was convinced of a need for an infirmary to meet the needs of the people and set up an initial appeal to build one.

By March 1775, following two further appeals the fund reached £3,000 and a committee was set up to see the project through.

Six months later Edward Harley donated the land in Hereford and when the fund stood at £4,000 the building work started.

Thomas Talbot donated £500 out of his own pocket, a vast amount of money in the year 1775.

The foundation stone was laid in 1781 and the infirmary, later the General Hospital opened in 1783.

Thomas Talbot lived for another six years, dying on February 18, 1789.

Thousands of people from Herefordshire have spent time as patients in Talbot Ward in the General, named after its benefactor.

But now the hospital is closed, to be replaced by housing and its caring work absorbed into the new complex at the County Hospital.

"The old order changeth, yielding place to new'' is an old saying and appropriate at this time decided the PCC at Ullingswick.

They want to remember Dr Talbot with gratitude and plan to do so by holding a service of Evensong every year on the Sunday nearest February 18.

The first service will by held on Sunday, February 16 at 3pm and everyone, county wide, will be welcome.