Nicholson was born in London to
Sir Charles Nicholson, 1st Baronet, and his wife, Sarah Elizabeth Nicholson ( Keightley). His elder brother was the architect
Sir Charles Nicholson; his younger brother was the stained-glass artist
Archibald Keightley Nicholson. Sydney was educated at
New College, Oxford before going on to study the
organ at the
Royal College of Music. He then served as organist at Barnet Parish Church (1897–1903),
Carlisle Cathedral (1904), Lower Chapel,
Eton College (1904–1908),
Manchester Cathedral (1908–1919), and
Westminster Abbey (1919–1928). Along with maintaining his organist posts, he edited the
Hymns Ancient and Modern supplement that was published in 1916; he did not live to see the 1950 revised edition. In 1927 Nicholson founded the
School of English Church Music (now the RSCM). The School's members initially met at
St Sepulchre-without-Newgate. One of Nicholson's most successful compositions for parish choirs was his
Communion Service in G, which was widely sung, especially in Anglo-Catholic churches, until recent times. He was warden of St Nicholas College,
Chislehurst, Kent (1928–1939). In addition to having edited
Hymns Ancient and Modern, still the standard
hymn book in many
Anglican churches today, Nicholson wrote several hymn tunes. Of these, the most famous are
Crucifer for the popular
processional hymn Lift High the Cross and
Totteridge. In 1928 he received the Lambeth DMus, and a decade later he was knighted for his services to Church music. He died at
Ashford, Kent at the age of 72, and was buried at
Westminster Abbey. == Works ==