Reginald Chapman NICHOLSON

NICHOLSON, REGINALD CHAPMAN (b. Glenelg, SA, 21 Oct 1882, d. Melbourne, Vic, 3 Oct 1945). Methodist missionary Solomon Islands, missions secretary.

Reg Nicholson was a candidate for the Methodist ministry of the Victoria Tasmania Conference in 1905 and after theological training, some time spent in the casualty ward at Melbourne Hospital, and an ambulance course he offered for overseas missions. He was ordained in 1907 and appointed to establish a mission station on Vella Lavella in the Solomon Islands. His first task was to study and reduce to writing the local language and to use his small store of medical knowledge. Headhunting and widow strangling were an early concern and as a fervent evangelist he longed to preach and bring the Gospel of peace and love to the warlike people around him. His sister soon joined him to keep house but shared the work until his fiancée Bessie Lancaster came from Melbourne: they were married 17 Feb 1911 and they formed a remarkably effective team although both were often in poor health.

An early medical patient was a lad named Bula with a painful eye complaint. Nicholson found a cure and established a close personal friendship. Bula was the first convert to the Christian faith and was baptised 'Daniel', on 2 Oct 1910. He soon became teacher, preacher and translations consultant and when the Nicholsons had to withdraw because of illness in 1916, he travelled with them. He and Nicholson embarked on a lecturing and preaching tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1917. Interest was quickened and financial support almost doubled wherever they told their story. In August 1919 they returned to Vella Lavella but the illness of their son Ian led them to withdraw in Nov 1920.

A film company from the USA arrived in 1919 to record the island life and Nicholson offered help after signing an agreement giving him rights of all film. After he retired from the island Nicholson went to the USA for two yeas of lecturing, tracked down the movie making company and secured his film material. The film was edited and entitled 'The Transformed Isle'. In 1924 Nicholson was appointed Methodist Foreign Missions secretary in SA and he used the film constantly during the 22 years until his retirement. It was a tremendously effective presentation of the change the Gospel had brought to the islanders. Nicholson was a fearless preacher of the Gospel and concerned pastor. He had superb courage, often facing death with no thought of personal safety. 'My God was a shield and I had no need for doors or locks' he claimed in correspondence. At the end of his life it was said 'his heart was ever in his work and he had boundless enthusiasm'. 'He led many men and women to this (mission) work'.

Reg Nicholson was elected president of the SA Methodist Conference in 1941 and his theme 'The church must be on the march always campaigning' fitted the wartime situation which saw the Japanese occupation of 'his' islands. He retired from the active ministry in 1945 frail in body but with continuing drive and evangelical zeal.

R C Nicholson, The Son of a Savage (London, 1924); South Australia Methodist Conference Minutes 1946; C T J Luxton, Isles of Solomon (Auckland, 1955); Uniting Church in Australia, 16 mm film The Transformed Isle (Synod Church Offices, 1923)

RODGER S BROWN