John Nicolson (Methodist)
Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia
The introduction and establishment of the Methodist religion in Shetland is largely credited to the work of John Nicolson (Some records state Nicholson).
Born on October 20th 1790 (Some records state 1792) at Quienster, Aithsting, the eldest son of Thomas Nicolson, Quienster, Aithsting, and Elizabeth Christie, West Burrafirth, Aithsting. Nicolson enlisted in the British Army as a young man, and became a Bombardier in the Royal Artillery. Demobilised in 1815, and with assistance from an Army Officer whom he had become friends with, he obtained a position as a clerk to a Doctor. It was around this time that he also encountered Methodist teachings.
Due to poor health he returned to Shetland in 1819, and embarked on a career as a travelling Methodist preacher. Within the following two years he formed a 'circuit' covering all of his native west mainland area. It was Nicolson who drew the attention of the Methodist Church elders upon Shetland. Having no means of support he wrote to London for help and the Rev. Daniel M'Allum was asked to prepare a report on the conditions in Shetland for the annual Conference in 1822. M'Allum's report was quite different from all the following reports written by Methodist preachers because he visited only the gentry and preached in their chapels. Nevertheless, it was this report that moved the new elected President Dr Adam Clarke to devote his entire presidency of 1822 and the following ten years until his death to the organising and funding of the Shetland Mission.
Immediately after the Conference, two preachers, the Revs. John Raby and Samuel Dunn, were sent to Shetland to help Nicolson to establish Methodism. Over the following 8 years or so a significant Methodist following was created in Shetland, and a number of Chapels and Churches built. At the time of Nicolson's death at Gruting, Parish of Sandsting on March 8th 1828 the membership of the Methodist Church in Shetland is believed to have stood at 1240 people.
After Nicolson's death, Dr Adam Clarke - still one of the most influential Methodists of the time - himself travelled Shetland preaching, consecrating new chapels and acquiring new chapel grounds.
