CHARLESTON — Father Nicholas R. Bayard, a retired priest of the Diocese of Charleston, died March 18. He was 84.
The Mass of Christian Burial was March 23 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Father Bayard was born Sept. 20, 1920, in Charlotte, N.C., a son of the late Nicholas R. and Agnes Civil Bayard. He was a graduate of St. Charles Preparatory School in Catonsville, Md., and St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Md. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 22, 1946, by Bishop Emmet M. Walsh at St. Peter Church in Columbia.
During his 58 years of ministry in the diocese, Father Bayard was associate pastor at St. Mary Church in Greenville, St. Mary Help of Christians Church in Aiken and St. Anne Church in Sumter. He was associate pastor and parochial vicar at Prince of Peace Church in Taylors. He served as pastor at St. Louis Church in Dillon, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Greenwood, St. John the Beloved Church in Summerville, Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Greenville, Blessed Sacrament Church in Charleston, St. Mary Church on Yonges Island, Sts. Frederick and Stephen Church on Edisto Island, Sacred Heart Church in Abbeville, Good Shepherd Church in McCormick, St. Mary Help of Christians Church in Aiken, St. Thomas the Apostle Church in North Charleston and Blessed Trinity Church in Greer. He retired from active ministry on May 15, 1999, but continued to assist with Masses at the Church of the Nativity and its school. He was known to the students as “Father Nick.”
In addition to parish work, Father Bayard served as a member of the Priests’ Senate, the Priests Association and the Commission for Ecumenical Affairs. He was also diocesan director of Marriage Encounter.
Father Bayard is survived by a niece and several cousins.
Donations may be made to the Father Joseph Maher Memorial Building Fund, c/o Church of the Nativity, 1061 Folly Road, Charleston, SC 29412.