James George Deck facts for kids
James George Deck (born November 1, 1807, died August 14, 1884) was a religious leader. He was born in Britain but became an important evangelist in New Zealand. An evangelist is someone who travels to share their religious beliefs with others.
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Early Life and Military Career
James George Deck was born in Bury St Edmunds, England. His father, John Deck, was a postmaster. James was very well-educated. He could speak French fluently and also knew Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.
When he was 17, James trained for the military in Paris. After his training, he joined the British East India Company. He bought a special military position with the 14th Madras Infantry. He served there from 1824 to 1826.
Religious Journey
After returning to England, James had a strong religious experience. He decided to study at a private Anglican religious college. On April 22, 1829, he married Alicia Feild. She was the daughter of his teacher.
In 1835, James left his military job for religious reasons. He went back to England and taught the sons of army officers. He had planned to become an Anglican minister. However, he became involved with a Christian group called the Plymouth Brethren. He was baptized by full immersion, which means being fully dipped in water. He then became a preacher for this group. He first preached in Taunton and then in Weymouth.
Moving to New Zealand
In 1848, a big disagreement happened within the Brethren movement. This disagreement caused the group to split into two main parts: the Exclusive Brethren and the Open Brethren. James Deck tried to help them make up, but he was not successful.
After this, he had a stroke, which caused some paralysis. He then decided to move to New Zealand. On August 13, 1853, he arrived in Wellington with his wife and eight children. They moved to a large piece of land in Ngātīmoti, Nelson Province. Sadly, his wife Alicia died only a few weeks later. His 20-year-old daughter, Mary, then took care of the family.
In July 1855, James married Lewanna Atkinson. They had five children together. In 1865, Lewanna and her youngest son died from measles.
Founding Brethren Assemblies
On January 1, 1863, James Deck started the first official Brethren meeting group in Ngātīmoti. Other local families joined him. However, some historians believe that an informal group had already been meeting in nearby Motueka.
The Brethren groups in the Nelson area grew quickly. In 1865, James and his family moved to Wellington. His preaching there helped establish even more Brethren groups. After five years, he returned to Motueka.
James Deck had not kept in close touch with the British Brethren. He did not want the split that happened in England to come to New Zealand. But in 1875, news of the division reached New Zealand. Leaders from the Exclusive Brethren visited, and the split was forced upon the New Zealand groups. This happened almost a generation after the split in Britain.
After one leader's visit, James Deck chose to side with the Exclusive Brethren. However, he still refused to completely separate himself from the Open Brethren groups. Some historians say that James Deck helped start both the Exclusive and Open Brethren groups in New Zealand. The split seemed to affect him deeply. He stopped writing hymns, which he was known for around the world. He died on August 14, 1884, in Motueka.
Impact on New Zealand
Within 40 years of James Deck's first Brethren meeting, the group had grown a lot. By 1900, nearly 2% of New Zealand's population were Brethren.
The Brethren movement in New Zealand helped the country develop socially. Even though James Deck's followers usually stayed out of politics, they still had an influence. One person who grew up in a Brethren group in Motueka was Keith Holyoake. He later left the Brethren and became a long-serving Prime Minister and then Governor General of New Zealand.
Family Life
James Deck had 14 children in total. Nine were with his first wife, Alicia, and five were with his second wife, Lewanna. Twelve of his children lived to adulthood.
After Lewanna's death, his daughter Mary again took over caring for the children. Mary and her sisters started a boarding school for girls. It was first at their family home and later at another home in Motueka. James George Deck lived there from about 1874 until he died.
James Deck's sons and their descendants were involved in both the "open" and "exclusive" Brethren groups. His son John and his wife Emily helped start the South Seas Evangelical Mission in Australia in 1877.
