Shirley Hall Nichols Explained

Shirley Hall Nichols (September 26, 1884 - February 25, 1964) was a missionary bishop of The Episcopal Church in Japan from 1926 until 1940, and later of Salina between 1943 and 1955.

Early life and education

Nichols was born in Brooklyn, New York City on September 26, 1884 to Walter Nichols and Frances Russell Hall. He was educated in the public schools of Montclair, New Jersey, and then attended Harvard University from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1905. He then studied at the General Theological Seminary from where he earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology in 1911 and awarded a Doctor of Sacred Theology in 1928. He married Hasu H. Gardiner on June 20, 1916 and together had four children.^[1]

Ordained ministry

Nichols was ordained deacon on May 18, 1911 by Bishop Edwin Stevens Lines of Newark at St James' Church in Upper Montclair, New Jersey.^[2] He immediately left as a missionary in Japan where he was assigned to teach at St Paul's University in Tokyo. He was then ordained priest on June 2, 1912 by the Bishop of North Tokyo John McKim.^[3] He served most of his priesthood ministering in Hirosaki, Aomori, and Ōdate from 1914 until 1926.^[4]

Episcopacy

He was elected Missionary Bishop of Kyoto and consecrated on April 13, 1926. He remained in office until 1940 when he was forced to leave Japan during WWII. Upon his arrival in the United States, he was appointed Acting Bishop of Salina and served in that position until his confirmation as Missionary Bishop of Salina in 1943.^[5] He retained the post until his retirement in 1955. He died of cancer at St. Luke's Hospital in New York City on February 25, 1964. ^{[6] [7] [8] [9]}

Notes and References

1. 1928 . NICHOLS, Shirley Hall. Who's Who in America. 15 . 1565.
2. June 10, 1911 . Ordinations . . 45. 185.
3. 1953 . NICHOLS, Rt . Rev. Shirley Hall. Stowe's Clerical Directory of the American Episcopal Church . 268.
4. 1940 . NICHOLS, Shirley Hall. Who's Who in Japan. 15 . 535.
5. October 17, 1943 . Missionary Bishops Elected . . 107. 15.
6. March 8, 1964. Bishop Nichols. The Living Church. 148. 6.
7. Book: Class of 1905 . 1915 . Secretary's Third Report . Records of the Class . Harvard College . 311.
8. . October 14, 1943 . MISSIONARY BISHOPS ARE ELECTED . The Witness for Christ and His Church . XXVII . 15 . 4 . Bishop Shirley Nichols, in charge of Salina (West Kansas) since retiring from Japan, was elected bishop of the district..
9. News: . February 28, 1964 . SHIRLEY NICHOLS, 79, EX-BISHOP OF KYOTO . . 27.