News & Events

Death of Rev. K. J. Nicolson

Rev. Kenneth J. Nicolson, who passed away last Monday (Jan. 25th), was the oldest minister in the Free Church, having lived to the age of 98. He was born in a family of nine in Gravir on the 13th of September 1911, and had four brothers and four sisters. (He was named after a brother, Kenneth, who died at the age of 14).  He first attended Gravir Primary School (which is now a museum), before moving on to the Nicolson Institute, Stornoway, and Edinburgh University, graduating with an MA degree.  After studying at the Free Church College, he was ordained and inducted in 1944 to Portree Free Church in Skye, and remained there for 13 years. In 1947, he married Rhoda Mackenzie (a nurse) from Crossbost (Lochs). He then accepted a call to Barvas Free Church in 1957, where he remained for 22 years, retiring in 1979 to Crossbost. In 1976, whilst he was minister in Barvas, he was elected to be Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland General Assembly.

Mr Nicolson continued to preach the Gospel up until his 90th year, until he was physically unable to continue. He had a commanding, yet unintimidating, presence in the pulpit, a versatile command of the English and Gaelic language, a distinctive voice, and deliberate, clear manner of communication. He composed spiritual poetry over the years, some of which has been published lately in his writings on the Garyvard Revival. It is hoped that his family in the future will be able to compile his works fully in print. He is mentioned several times in recent publication, Glory in the Glen.

Mr Nicolson is survived by his wife, Rhoda, daughter, Peggy, son, Ruaraidh, and four grandchildren, to whom we extend our sincere and prayerful sympathies.