Deck, James George

(1807-1884)

   Born in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, he received a military training in Paris under one of Napoleon's generals and served as an officer in the 14th Madras Native Infantry of the East India Company from 1824 to 1826. On a trip to England he experienced a profound religious conversion and resigned his commission with the intention of becoming a clergyman. Instead he and his wife joined the Plymouth Brethren and Deck became an evangelist in the West of England. He wrote religious poetry that was used in the movement's earliest hymn books. Having suffered a stroke and partial paralysis, Deck and his family emigrated to New Zealand in 1853. Within three months his wife died and later, with his second wife, the family moved to Wellington. His preaching tours had a significant impact on the development of the Brethren movement in New Zealand. Some of his hymns: "Abba, Father! We Approach Thee," "Jesus, Thy Name I Love," "Lamb of God! Our Souls Adore Thee," "Lamb of God, Still Keep Me," "Savior! Hasten Thine Appearing."

   Sources: Biography of James George Deck. Dictionary of New Zealand (http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=1D8). Hymns by James George Deck (http://www.stempublishing.com/hymns/authors/deck). Oldpoetry (www.oldpoetry.com). The Cyber Hymnal (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/index.htm).