Rev. N. S. Facey
Nicholas Saunders Facey was born in Trinity, Newfoundland, on July 17, 1879, to Robert William and Caroline Facey. His five siblings included Rev. Hugh William Facey. In 1908, he married Selena Mary Reeves of St. Lawrence. Together they had three children: Gertrude, Norah/Nora(?), and Robert. Presumably, his oldest daughter was named after his late sister, Gertrude, who died of brain fever at the age of eight. He attended high school at Bishop Feild College. In 1903, he began to attend St. Augustine’s College in Canterbury to train for the ministry. He was ordained deacon in 1906 and priest in 1907. He was the curate of Heart’s Content from 1907 to 1907 and, following this, he was the incumbent of the mission of Change Islands from 1907 to 1911. In 1911, he went to England to continue his education at Durham University, during which time he was curate of Brandon, Durham. He received his BA from Durham University in 1912 and, in 1919, both his MA from the University of Cambridge in 1919 and an LL.D. from Trinity College. He also served as chaplain to the Forces from 1917 to 1919. He returned to Newfoundland in 1919 to take the position of principal of Queen’s College, a role he filled until 1937. He was a member of a majority of the Boards and Standing Committees of the Synod, and for his admirable significant involvement in diocesan affairs he was made canon of the Cathedral in 1925. He returned to England in 1937 to serve as vicar of St. James the Less, Westminster, London, a position he held until he retired in 1952. He passed away in England on November 14, 1955. His name is written on multiple texts in the Queen Elizabeth II Library. On one text is written “To the Rev. Canon Facey M.A., LLD.” Normally, if the surname alone was all that was written in the dedication, it would be nearly impossible to determine if the book was dedicated to Nicholas or his brother Hugh, as both held the title of reverend canon; however, considering the degrees mentioned, it seems likely that the dedication refers to Rev. N. S. Facey.
Donation List:
Bray, William. The Diary of John Evelyn. F.R.S.: Vol. 1. London: J.M. Dent & Co., 1907.
Lightfoot, J. B. The Epistles of St. Paul: Philippians. 1868.
Lodge, Oliver. The Substance of Faith Allied with Science: A Catechism for Parents and Teachers. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1911.
