Revd Tom Nicholson died suddenly at home on Monday 11th August.
Tom began his ministerial career candidating for the ministry of the United Free Church of Scotland whilst studying at St Andrews. As a student, he was seconded as student minister to Milnathort in Kinross and later to Springburn in Glasgow. During this time he transferred to the UFCS College in Edinburgh.
He was ordained in 1957 at Montrose where he served until 1960.
In that year he moved to the Presbyterian Church of England and was called to the charge of Rochdale and Ramsbottom. Rambsbottom PCE closed in 1965 and subsequently joined with the local Congregational church, which later joined the URC. Before this, the joint pastorate had been dissoloved, and Tom stayed as minister of Rochdale until 1970 when he moved to Wideopen.
At Rochdale Tom had convened Presbytery committees on youth and on maintenance of the ministry.
His time at Wideopen was short, and in 1970 he moved into social work with Gateshead Social Services where he held posts in mental health and work with the elderly, retiring in 1985. During part of this time he held ministerial oversight of both Swalwell and Horsley URCs, the former appointment ceasing in 1986 on its closure. Tom’s association with Horsley in 1979 and continued until the end of 2000.
Tom, in his quiet way, enjoyed academic study. He took a BA degree with the Open University which was awarded in 1990 and conferred with Honours in 1996. Meanwhile he took an MA in Applied Theology from the University of Newcastle in 1994.
In 2001 Newcastle District Council recorded its gratitude for Tom’s varied ministries and his faithfulness and devotion to duty. The church at Horsley in particular owes him a great deal for the way in which he helped to maintain a cause there often against the odds and with very limited resources. He led it to the point where new and adventurous possibilities in mission were being discussed.
Stuart Brock.