With sadness we share the news of the passing of the Rev. Grahame Gordon Butler-Nixon, 82, on January 19, 2015 in Columbia, SC. He served as the 14th Rector of Grace Church in Newark from 1971-1977, and on the diocesan Standing Committee from 1975-1977.
Born in Sydney, Australia on June 16, 1932, he graduated from the University of Adelaide Law School, served in the Australian Foreign Service, and was ordained a priest in the Anglican Church of Australia. He came to the United States in 1963 from graduate study at the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York, and later at the University of Pennsylvania. He transferred to the Episcopal Church from the Anglican Church of Australia on May 1, 1969.
In addition to Grace, Newark, the Rev. Butler-Nixon served congregations in Long Island, NY and Asheville, NC before coming rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Camden, SC in 1986 where he remained until retiring in 1997. He became an American citizen in 1987 at a ceremony in the church.
He is survived by a sister, a brother, and nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grahame Butler-Nixon Scholarship Fund, Grace Episcopal Church, 1315 Lyttleton Street, Camden, SC 29020.
Good and gracious God, the light of the faithful and shepherd of souls, you sent your servant Grahame to be a priest in your Church to feed your sheep with your word and to guide them by his example; give us the grace to keep the faith he taught and to follow in his footsteps. We entrust him into your unfailing mystery of Love and Hope through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
