Nicholas J. Wilson

July 12, 1948 – December 6, 2005

Nicholas Wilson came to the ministry of Spiritual Care in hisforties, after owning a successful gardening and horticultural business in England for twenty five years.  He came to Canada in 1991 to pursue theological studies at Regent College in Vancouver.  While at Regent, he met Margaret DeCasseres and they married in 1994.  After receiving his Master of Divinity in 1995 and completing his Clinical Pastoral Education with Dale Johnson at Vancouver General Hospital, Nicholas was certified as a Specialist in Institutional Ministry by CAPPE.  His denominational endorsement for ministry came from the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster.

Nicholas began his career in Spiritual Care at BC Children's Hospital, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children and BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre on January 6, 1997.  He was appointed a senior chaplain in May 2001 and accepted the position of Director of Spiritual Care  later that year.  Despite his change of position he energetically maintained his clinical ministry.  During his nine year career at Children's, Sunny Hill  and Women's, he served on the Ethics Committees of all three facilities, and also chaired the Perinatal Loss Committee at BC Women's. 

His pursuit of professional excellence in the practice of spiritual care was evident in the countless volunteer hours he put in as President of CAPPE-BC and member and Chair of the Professional Practice Commission of CAPPE.  He was also a member of the Pediatric Chaplains Network.

The connection between growing plants and growing spiritual life was a guiding metaphor for Nicholas.  One of his favourite quotes was this old Chinese proverb:

            “If your vision is for a year... plant wheat.

            If your vision is for ten years... plant trees.

            If your vision is for a lifetime... plant people.” (Source unknown)

The following is taken from Juliet Henderson-Rahbar's nomination letter for Nicholas Wilson for the Verda Rochon Distinguished Service Award 2008:

“While he produced no published works to prove his giftedness, skill and discipline in the art of spiritual care, his ministry was published in the hearts of the human beings he cared for...  He cultivated hope and peace in the lives of tiny babes, children, teens, women in crisis, parents, grandparents and families, friends and staff alike. 

When I remember Nicholas, I think of him as “The People's Chaplain.”  Much like the late Princess of Wales, he touched the lives of ordinary people with his humility and compassion.  People, who would never have felt comfortable approaching a religious authority, felt comfortable opening up to Nicholas:  women facing pregnancy termination, a staff person looking for a faith leader to officiate at the funeral of his same-sex partner, health care professionals facing the pain of their own medical errors, women carrying babies conceived as a result of work in the sex trade industry.  These were just some of the people who came to Nicholas trusting that he would care for them rather than judge them.  Nicholas often had piles of paper on his desk because he always put people before paperwork...

I will never forget the day that Nicholas trained me in making “foot molds” (plaster cast molds of the feet of babies who had died before birth, which became a memorial gift to the parents).  With reverence he held the body of a tiny boy in his hands, and reminded him how much his parents loved him.  He then went on to speak to the deceased child describing each step of the process as he made impressions of his tiny feet.  Nicholas saw every human being as a precious gift, and made a work of art out of his ministry.  His legacy to his fellow chaplains was his own example as chaplain, director, mentor and 'soul gardener'.”

Nicholas died on December 6, 2005, following a brief illness, during a visit to England.  He is survived by his loving family, spouse Margaret DeCasseres Wilson, brothers Guy and Ken Wilson and sister Rachel Samways.  In April 2008, Nicholas Wilson was awarded posthumously, the Verda Rochon Award for Distinguished Service to CAPPE/ACPEP.

Submitted by Sheila Atkinson, with information drawn from the BC Children's and BC Women's Memorial Service tribute, and the Verda Rochon Award nomination letters for Nicholas.