Fullam was born in
Montpelier, Vermont, to Rex Fullam and Mary Fullam (née Mary Frances Tewsksbury). After graduation from high school in
Barre, Vermont, in 1948, Fullam began collegiate studies at the
Eastman School of Music in
Rochester, New York. While there, he was also
choirmaster at a nearby
Methodist church, whose pastor gave Fullam a copy of
James Gilchrist Lawson’s
Deeper Experiences of Famous Christians; Fullam later credited the book with helping him to change the direction of his life. He withdrew from Eastman and matriculated at
Gordon College in
Wenham, Massachusetts, from which he was graduated magna cum laude, with a baccalaureate in philosophy. He then did graduate work at both
Harvard University and
Boston University, obtaining his master of arts in philosophy from Harvard, magna cum laude, in 1955. During the next sixteen years, Fullam held various teaching positions in several universities and colleges. He concluded his academic career as a professor at
Barrington College in 1972. Although Fullam never attended
seminary, the
Episcopal bishop of
Rhode Island ordained him an
Episcopal priest in 1967. He was appointed
rector of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in
Darien, Connecticut, in 1972. In 1984, Fullam received a
Doctorate of Divinity from Barrington College. In 1990, Gordon College awarded him the honorary degree of
Doctor of Humane Letters. ==Ministry==