[3] Nicholls was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1967 and as a priest in 1968.

Between 1978 and 1983, he was director of pastoral studies at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield and between 1983 and 1990 a residential canon of Manchester Cathedral.

He was consecrated a bishop on 25 April 1990 by John Habgood, Archbishop of York.

However, he had changed his mind by the time of his appointment as Bishop of Lancaster and he subsequently ordained women to the priesthood for the Diocese of Blackburn.

[6] Nicholls has been married to Judith Dagnall since 1969; they have two sons and two daughters.