Rev. Nicholas Barclay Phelps

1933 - 2023

Phelps Rev. Nicholas Barclay Age 89, formerly of Bristol, PA, a long-time priest of the Diocese of Pennsylvania and a recent resident of Danbury, CT, died July 27, 2023 at Maplewood Danbury after a long illness. He was born on October 17, 1933, in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, the son of Charles B. Phelps, Jr., and onstance Lay Phelps. He attended The Hill School in Pottstown, PA, and received his bachelor's degree from Williams College in Williamstown, MA, and a master's degree from The Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge. His first call came in 1959 from the parish of St. John's, Williamstown, where he served for three years as assistant rector and as vicar at St. Andrews Chapel, Blackinton. MA. He next relocated to California where he worked for 6 years as an assistant chaplain and chaplain at UCLA. Those were years of tumult, as the Vietnam War was raging, and colleges like UCLA were hotbeds of discord and protest. Battles for civil rights and the women's movement, the Chicano movement and the assassinations of Martinn Luther King, Malcolm X, John F. Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy were roiling the country, but for Nick, on a happier note, there was the lure of exotic California culture, and a love of sunshine, ocean beaches, and the mass of lively humanity traversing its boardwalks. Long after he had relocated to Pennsylvania, he returned each summer to Venice, CA, as his personal restorative. He eventually exchanged this sojourn for visits with family in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, (even if it meant gritting his teeth as he changed planes in Montreal). Returning East, in Pennsylvania he served from 1970 to 1980 as rector of Trinity Church, Buckingham, and from 1981-1998 of Saint James Episcopal Church in Bristol. Following his formal retirement in 1999, he continued as assisting priest at Saint Mark's Church in Philadelphia. He was a man of strong principles, a lover of scripture and sacred art and music, a collector of Russian iconography, and a great fan of cheesecake. Family gatherings were reservoirs of multi-generational family humor and silly banter, and often prompted Nick and his brother's performances on imaginary bagpipes. He was passionate about sacred music from the Anglican and Russian Orthodox traditions and loved classical music overall. He remained fundamentally a private man, erudite and contrarian at times, with strong principles rooted in scripture. He was a devoted son, and beloved brother to Charles Blanchard Phelps, sister-in-law, Kristin Nord Phelps of New Fairfield, CT, uncle to Wesley Charles Phelps, of Baddeck, Nova Scotia, and New Fairfield, and Matthew Nord Phelps (Veronica MacIsaac), of Halifax, Canada. Survivors also include Joy Endore Armstrong of Portland, CT, and Elizabeth Constance and William Carleton Phelps of Clydesdale, Nova Scotia. Funeral Services will be at Saint Mark's, Philadelphia, at 12:00 noon on August 8, 2023, with Burial to follow at Saint James The Greater Episcopal Church, 225 Walnut St., Bristol, PA. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Saint James' or Saint Mark's. Arrangements by LAUREL HILL FUNERAL HOME. www.laurelhillphl.com