Vernon Sampson Nicholls (3 September 1917– 2 February 1996) was an Anglican clergyman who served in the Church of England as the Bishop of Sodor and Man[1] from 1974 to 1983.

He studied for ordination at Clifton Theological College, was ordained in 1941,[5] and held Curacies at Bedminster Down, Bristol, and at Liskeard in Cornwall.

[8] From 1980 he was also Dean of the newly created Peel Cathedral — he was installed as such in the service where it was raised to cathedral status, on All Saints' Day (1 November 1980).

Nicholls was a very active Freemason under the United Grand Lodge of England.

Initiated in Philbrick Lodge No 2255 (Essex), most of his masonic memberships were in Warwickshire, where he rose in seniority, eventually becoming Provincial Grand Master of the county, and leader of its 181 lodges from 1985 to 1992, following his retirement from church life.