The Rev. Chris Nichols
Senior Pastor

The Rev. Chris Nichols was raised in the Cleveland, Ohio area and received a Bachelor of Science in Education as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts and was ordained by the United Church of Christ in February, 1986 in the Eastern Association of the Ohio Conference. He subsequently was awarded a Doctor of Ministry degree from Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.  

Rev. Nichols has served in several congregations first, as an Associate pastor, with concentrations in youth ministry and most recently, as the Pastor of the Church of Christ Congregational in Goshen, Connecticut from 1992 to 2007. 

Chris and Kathy Nichols married in June, 1975.  Both graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College that year and began working life as public school teachers – Kathy in primary grades and Chris as a high school art teacher. In addition to teaching, Chris has worked professionally as a photographer, and served on the staff of two national youth ministry organizations: Young Life and Youth for Christ.  Chris still takes his artwork and photography seriously, and includes bicycling and repairing antique automobiles among his hobbies.  Chris and Kathy have traveled in Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, and most recently, China. 

Kathy has been his constant companion in ministry.  She has taught Language Skills at the Rumsey Hall School in Washington, CT since 1995, and was the music director at the Church of Christ Congregational in Goshen from 1999 until her departure to come to Madison in 2007. From a family of musicians, Kathy has led several Christian music groups, has contributed her talent as a vocal soloist on numerous stages in the NW CT area, and has taught private piano lessons for many years. 

The Nichols’ have raised two fine sons, Chris II (23) and Jamie (20), both students at Baldwin-Wallace College.  Chris II graduated in May, 2007 with a major in Business/Marketing. Jamie is majoring in pre-law and is the 16th person in the family to attend Baldwin-Wallace. 

Because of his deep concern that the Church become more world-conscious, Chris developed a series of mission projects to build a school in the Dominican Republic involving over 100 youth and adults from northern Connecticut.  He has also organized numerous trips to Manhattan to serve the homeless, as well as many other service projects across the country. 

The Rev. Boyd Johnson is presently the Minister of Visitation and Pastoral Care. This is a part time position involving a few hours a month. Boyd is a graduate of Dartmouth College and received a Master’s degree from Princeton Seminary and also a Master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling from Temple University. Boyd was ordained in the Presbyterian Church but for the majority of his ministry has been a member of the United Church of Christ.

He and his wife, Barbara, have served pastorates in New Jersey, Massachusetts , Florida and Connecticut.  Boyd is also Pastor Emeritus of the First Church of Christ in Woodbridge, Ct. where they served for almost twenty years. They have three grown children, Boyd III, and his wife, Alessandra, live in Park Slope, Brooklyn along with our New Year’s Day granddaughter, Luciana (LuLu). Katherine lives in London, England  with her husband, Simon. Katie’s twin brother, Timothy, lives in New York City and will be married to Yolanda next October. 

Boyd and Barbara have been residents of Madison since last fall and are very much enjoying our wonderful church family here and our beautiful community. Some of Boyd's passions are bird watching, sailing, and tennis.