Read this first

 

This website tells the story of an extraordinary woman who has influenced and inspired the lives of many people around the world. Pat Nickson died in April 2009, aged 64, having battled with cancer for the previous 18 months.

 

Pat trained in nursing and midwifery but knew her “call” was to overseas mission. She worked among aboriginal people in Australia and, as a Church Mission Society CMS partner, in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Eastern Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). In 1992 Pat founded IPASC the Pan-African Institute of Community Health, in DR Congo.

 

Pat was a consultant for Africa for the World Council of Churches, and also completed a PhD with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, where she held a faculty position. In 2004, Pat was ordained into the Anglican Church and served at St.Mary's Upton, Wirral, in the Diocese of Chester, in addition to continuing her ministry in DR Congo. In 2005 she was awarded the OBE for her services to Africa.

 

Since the 1990’s Pat had been working on a book to be called “Diamonds in the Darkness”, but her work kept her from writing regularly. Following her diagnosis of terminal cancer in 2007 Pat devoted more time to writing, but her determination to “live in the present” prevented her from completing the manuscript. Extracts from her writing are published on this web site at 'A Life in Words'.

 

Now a group of Pat's friends, based at St Mary's Church, Upton, Wirral have edited what she wrote and have drawn upon other available material, including her writings on looking forward to death and resurrection. They have produced a moving and memorable book (published in May 2011) that is a witness to us all.

 

Pat's story lives on. So...

 

  • Please send us your memories of Pat.
  • Please share with us how you have been inspired by her work.
  • Please look at the photo galleries, ('A Life in photos'). Are you there?

    Can you identify people and places? If so, please tell us.

 

Pat often used the word 'Obusinge'- meaning 'that which encapsulates the whole of life'. Obusinge was to be the driving force of how she related to others in her health work and her Christian ministry. Please make sure that you reflect on the 'Obusinge' page and consider how it could inspire you too. If you can grasp the idea, then you will be 'Learning about the whole of life with Pat Nickson'.

 

We will continue to add to these pages in the coming months, so do add it to your favourites list and return again. You can always check if anything new has arrived since your last visit on the page called 'New items added'.

 

The story of Pat’s life has not ended. Her work continues, especially in DR Congo and in the UK. Be part of this ongoing legacy of Revd Doctor Patricia Nickson, OBE. We hope that this website will be an inspiration to you.