R. G. Nichols

Reginald Gordon Clement Nichols (11 February 1888 – 18 July 1960)[1] was an Anglican clergyman in Melbourne, Victoria.

History

Nichols was born in Woodlands, New South Wales, son of Alfred Harvey Nichols and Maria Nichols, née Clements. He was educated at Fort Street School, and was first employed at Burns, Philp & Co. in Sydney, later in Townsville. In 1910 Nichols he left for Victoria and in 1912 entered Ridley College, at the University of Melbourne, studying for the Anglican ministry and was ordained deacon in 1913. He graduated BA with Honours in 1914, winning the Laurie Prize.[2] In 1915 he graduated from the Australian College of Theology and was ordained a priest. He graduated Diploma of Education in 1916 and M.A. in 1917.

In 1922 he was appointed to St Mark's Anglican church, Fitzroy. He proved to be unconventional priest: he augmented his Christmas services with movies and established a working men's club.[3] Throughout the Great Depression he organised "penny dinners" for schoolchildren and established a farm for unemployed boys at Lysterfield.[1]

He was a popular radio personality, broadcasting as "Brother Bill" on 3LO[4] and later on commercial stations.

In 1942 he left St Mark's for Townsville, where he founded a hostel for servicemen. He resigned the priesthood after being convicted of sending obscene letters to certain women in Victoria, purporting them to been from soldiers.[5]

Recognition

Nichols was appointed M.B.E. in 1941.[6]

Family

Nichols married Alice Emily Wilson on 12 July 1916; they had three children.

References

  1. ^ a b David Pear (1988). Australian Dictionary of Biography 'Nichols, Reginald Gordon Clement (1888–1960)'. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  2. ^ "Rev. R. G. Nichols, B.A." The Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser. Vol. XLVIII, no. 2654. New South Wales, Australia. 2 April 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 27 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Prominent Personalities The Rev. R. G. Nichols An Unorthodox Cleric". Table Talk. No. 3190. Victoria, Australia. 27 June 1929. p. 13. Retrieved 27 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Will Miss Brother Bill". The Sun News-pictorial. No. 3440. Victoria, Australia. 26 September 1933. p. 6. Retrieved 27 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ ""Brother Bill"'s Obscene Letters". Brisbane Truth. No. 2243. Queensland, Australia. 21 March 1943. p. 12. Retrieved 27 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Government House Investiture". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 29, 737. Victoria, Australia. 13 December 1941. p. 4. Retrieved 27 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.