Fonds F3712 - A.M. Nicholson fonds (UCCA)

Alexander Malcolm “Sandy” Nicholson (1900-1991) was a United Church minister, politician and farmer. He was born in Lucknow, Ontario to parents Alexander Nicholson and Isabelle MacDonald. In 1920 he left his hometown to farm in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan and then in 1921 enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan St. Andrew’s College to study theology. There he joined the Student Christian Movement (SCM) and by 1924 was on the National Committee representing the University. In 1927 he graduated with a degrees in Art and Theology. After networking with a minister from St. Stephens, Edinburgh at a SCM event in Europe, Nicholson decided to do post-graduate work in Edinburgh, Scotland. He and his new wife Marian Leila Massey moved to Edinburgh. In the mornings he would study at the University of Edinburgh, and in the afternoons he served as Assistant Minister to St. Stephens. After studying for a year and half his was called home because his father was ill. Upon their return he was convinced by Dr. John L. Nichol, Superintendent of Missions for Northern Saskatchewan, to serve a five year term in the Hudson Bay Junction. There he became the first United Church Minister. During this time he also became very interested in politics and became an organizer for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in 1935. Aside from his church career Nicholson had very successful political career. He was elected as a federal Member of Parliament in northern Saskatchewan in 1940 and served four terms until 1957. Between 1960 and 1967 he served at the Minister of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation for the Saskatchewan Legislature. His theological background gave his politics a Christian perspective aiming to improve the general lot of people and committing to peace. Nicholson remained active in the church for the remainder of his political career and after retirement. Upon retirement, he also became very interested in oral history and produced many interviews now housed in the provincial archives of Saskatchewan and Ontario. As part of the Division of Communication’s Oral History Project, Nicholson conducted oral history interviews of United Church ministers for the United Church Archives. Nicholson and his wife, Marian, had three children, Ruth, Mary Anna, and Alexander.