They Found the Secret

Roy and Mary Nicholls found the “secret” that Paul had found (Philippians 4:11-13.) They found the secret to finding true contentment, no matter what the circumstances, while having absolute confidence that Jehovah will provide.

From being received as guests in brother’s homes in the circuit work, to becoming hosts as they cared for the Bristol Assembly Hall and becoming guests again with us in Jah-Jireh, Roy and Mary have seen Jehovah’s hand in a mighty way. We are privileged that they shared their life story with us. Sadly, Mary passed away on the 11th of April 2024, so we wanted to share their story with you as a tribute to the faithful life she led.

Raised In the Truth by Faithful Parents

Both Roy and Mary got the truth in their infancy as it were. Roy was five and Mary was three when their parents embraced the truth.

“They took the truth on the basis of a little boy who knocked on their door and offered the harp of God,” says Roy of his parents.

Roy’s father was a Sunday school teacher in the Church of England and his mother was an evangelical preacher searching for the truth. This god-fearing couple recognised the truth and took firm hold of it, instilling it deep in the hearts of their two sons.

“My father was introduced to the truth through the gramophone (phonograph) method,” says Mary. “And he listened because he had lost three members of his family in just 5 years! And it hadn’t turned him against God. In fact, it made him listen more.”

Making The Truth Their Own

Roy recalls how he and his brother would take their bikes and set off for the Kingdom Hall as children, eager to attend the meetings: “We were very young at the time, we just loved the organisation!” he says.

And what made him progress in the truth?

“Could we think of something else that was better than what we understand to be bible knowledge, bible information! … And once you’ve got the idea of what the truth is trying to teach us about this time period at the end of the system, then it’s worthwhile looking into it deeper. That’s how it made me get encouragement to go pioneering.”

“As my mother had died when I was born and I didn’t know her,” says Mary, “the resurrection hope really impressed me. And the one thing I wanted to do was be able to see my mother, see her raised again, see what my mother was really like. So, apart from appreciating all the other doctrines that were approved from the Bible, it was the resurrection hope of seeing my mother that I think got me to think more that this is the truth and I want to get baptised, let Jehovah do the rest.”

14-year-old Roy was baptised in 1949 in the Watford Public Baths. Mary was baptised at the age of 12 at Wembley in 1951.

They have fond memories of their baptism day, which you can see in their life story video at the end of this write-up.  

Here’s a short clip of the baptism in 1951 at the convention in Wembley:

A Simple Yet Perfect Wedding

Roy and Mary met when they were caring for an assignment at an assembly. You can hear from them on that romantic meet-cute in their life story video.

Roy and Mary were married in 1957 at the Harrow Kingdom Hall, in North West London. Their wedding proves true to Jesus’ words in Mathew 6:33 - “Keep on, then, seeking first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.”

The poor pioneers, as Roy puts it, found that they had nothing lacking when it came to their wedding. A brother’s home, a borrowed dress, a few flowers … and they had themselves a perfect wedding. More importantly, they were content, recognising what was truly more important than a fancy wedding – their marriage and the threefold chord. With Jehovah’s blessings and the generosity of his people they had more than a perfect wedding – they had a solid foundation for their marriage that would last 67 years!

Rich Experiences Serving Jehovah Together

After a very short honeymoon, they began their long and satisfying journey together in Jehovah’s service.

“On our marriage day, we were signed to Éire, or Ireland as it was called,” says Mary. “So within a week of being married, we went and hitchhiked till Liverpool, caught the ferry, and went over to Ireland. That was our first assignment as special pioneers.”

They were assigned to Waterford, Dublin, and other places in Ireland and then came back to Yorkshire.

They relate faith-strengthening experiences of facing opposition from the Catholic churches in Ireland and finding honest-hearted ones in their life story video.

They were then invited to Gilead.

Putting Their Gilead Training to Good Use

Roy and Mary attended the 115th Class of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. The words of Brother Herd in that graduating class, sounded down in their hearts:

“The Bible is a magnificent thing of God. Never underestimate its worth … Make it your aim and determination to use your Gilead training to keep speaking ‘the magnificent things of God’ … so dear graduates, remember as you go forth, as you march into spiritual battle in your new assignments, that Jehovah will be marching with you. Never lose sight of the fact that more are with you than are against you.”

True to those words, Roy and Mary used their Gilead training well in circuit and district work as they travelled throughout the British Isles.

Caring for the Bristol Assembly Hall - Building Lasting Friendships

Roy and Mary were then assigned to care for the Bristol Assembly Hall. Many of you will fondly remember being part of the construction of the Bristol Assembly Hall, which was dedicated on 5th August 1995.

Talking about their experience caring for the Assembly Hall, Roy says: “One of the lovely things is that we were being invitees of those who love the truth … because when we were actually at the assembly hall, we were becoming hosts and doing the opposite of what we were doing with the travelling work. So as a result, we now made many, many friends.”

They had many interesting experiences there that they recall in their life story video. Roy and Mary cared for the Assembly Hall for 20 years.

Looking To the Future with Eyes of Faith

It was amazing to hear Roy and Mary speak of the future that they look forward to in the new world. Their confidence that Jehovah would fulfill all that he has promised is unshakeable. The new world is as real to them as the rich life that they have lived all these years.

It was particularly touching to listen to Roy’s hope to see Mary in perfect health. What a life of love you’ve led when your brightest hope is for your mate! We look forward to the time when Mary can see her hope of resurrection come true and when Roy can see her in perfect health. You can see their expressions in the life story video.

A Lesson in Contentment

Having Roy and Mary with us has been an encouragement for all of us. Their faith in Jehovah’s promise to care for them has been unwavering all their life. As single ones, choosing life partners for spiritual qualities was more important than material credentials. As a bride and groom, a solid marriage was more important than an elaborate wedding day. As newlyweds, letting Jehovah direct their flight was more important than building a nest. As a spiritual couple, fulfilling theocratic assignments was more important than weaving a safety net. For their life of contentment, they were richly blessed. Our Grand Provider never disappoints.

 “All our life we wanted to do theocratic things,” says Mary, “and of course, we thoroughly enjoyed it.”

We have put together a few of their expressions in this video. We hope you enjoy it.