Thomas Deacon
Encyclopedia
Thomas Deacon was an English non-juror
bishop, liturgical scholar and physician.
He was born to William and Cecelia Deacon. After his mother married the non-juror bishop Jeremy Collier
, the young Deacon was introduced to many of the leading Jacobite
and non-juror figures including George Hickes
. Though lacking a university education, Deacon became an accomplished scholar and was ordained by Jeremy Collier to the nonjuring priesthood in 1716. In addition to his theological studies, Deacon studied medicine with Dr. Richard Mead
(1673–1754).
He served several non-juror congregations in London
before moving to Manchester
around 1722, where he became a leading physician and married his wife Sarah (died 1745). Three of his twelve children served in the Jacobite uprising
of 1745. The oldest, Thomas, served as captain of the Jacobite Manchester Regiment and was executed. His brother Robert died in prison and Charles was exiled to Jamaica
where he died in 1749. His daughter Sarah (1731–1801) married William Cartwright, an apothecary and later Deacon's successor as a Non-juror bishop.
During his years in Manchester the city became a significant hub of Jacobite and Non-juror activity. Though he was clearly a Jacobite, he gave his primary attention to creating a continuing Non-juror church. He strongly espoused ecclesial independence from the state and opposed reunion with the Church of England. Joining him in his efforts were Collier, Thomas Brett
and Roger Laurence
, all of whom participated in the Usages Controversy that divided the Nonjuring community.
The Usages party, freed from the oversight of the established church, advocated the reintroduction of four elements to the Eucharist
— the invocation of the Holy Spirit
, the oblation
, the mixed chalice, and the prayers for the dead
. The first effort at creating such a liturgy was published in 1718, with the liturgy being drafted by Deacon and Brett. Many Non-jurors, even some who thought the usages acceptable, thought that this effort came at an inopportune time. Brett would later rejoin the main Non-Usages party in 1732, but his partner, Deacon, remained true to his belief that the Usages were a necessary part of the true and efficacious Eucharist. Scottish bishop Archibald Campbell
would consecrate Deacon and Laurence as bishops of what now became the Orthodox British Church (1733).
Deacon's interest in liturgics and spirituality are evidenced in his Compleat Collection of Devotions (1734). This book included a new liturgy, "The Order of the Divine Offices of the Orthodox British Church," which replaced the earlier one from 1718. In this liturgy Deacon added other ancient liturgical practices including infant communion. The book also included excerpts from John Wesley
's `Essay upon the Stationary Fasts'. Wesley met Deacon through John Clayton of Manchester who had been part of Wesley's Oxford group, which led to the invitation of the future Methodist founder to contribute to the book. Though never becoming an official Anglican liturgy, Deacon's incorporation of ancient Christian liturgies and reclaiming of the doctrine of eucharistic sacrifice would influence later liturgical developments.
His most important work A Full, True, and Comprehensive View of Christianity (1747) included two catechisms, a detailed theological commentary on the Compleat Collection of Devotions, and the development of a sacramental theology that extended the number of sacraments to twelve. Among the offices added were confirmation, marriage, ordination, and infant communion.
Deacon was buried in the churchyard of Manchester's St. Anne's church.
Non-juror
A non-juror is a person who refuses to swear a particular oath.* In British history, non-jurors refused to swear allegiance to William and Mary; see Nonjuring schism...
bishop, liturgical scholar and physician.
He was born to William and Cecelia Deacon. After his mother married the non-juror bishop Jeremy Collier
Jeremy Collier
Jeremy Collier was an English theatre critic, non-juror bishop and theologian.-Life:Born in Stow cum Quy, Cambridgeshire, Collier was educated at Caius College, University of Cambridge, receiving the BA and MA . A supporter of James II, he refused to take the oath of allegiance to William and...
, the young Deacon was introduced to many of the leading Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
and non-juror figures including George Hickes
George Hickes
George Hickes was an English divine and scholar.-Biography:Hickes was born at Newsham, near Thirsk, Yorkshire, in 1642...
. Though lacking a university education, Deacon became an accomplished scholar and was ordained by Jeremy Collier to the nonjuring priesthood in 1716. In addition to his theological studies, Deacon studied medicine with Dr. Richard Mead
Richard Mead
Richard Mead was an English physician. His work, A Short Discourse concerning Pestilential Contagion, and the Method to be used to prevent it , was of historic importance in the understanding of transmissible diseases.-Life:The eleventh child of Matthew Mead , Independent divine, Richard was born...
(1673–1754).
He served several non-juror congregations in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
before moving to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
around 1722, where he became a leading physician and married his wife Sarah (died 1745). Three of his twelve children served in the Jacobite uprising
Jacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
of 1745. The oldest, Thomas, served as captain of the Jacobite Manchester Regiment and was executed. His brother Robert died in prison and Charles was exiled to Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
where he died in 1749. His daughter Sarah (1731–1801) married William Cartwright, an apothecary and later Deacon's successor as a Non-juror bishop.
During his years in Manchester the city became a significant hub of Jacobite and Non-juror activity. Though he was clearly a Jacobite, he gave his primary attention to creating a continuing Non-juror church. He strongly espoused ecclesial independence from the state and opposed reunion with the Church of England. Joining him in his efforts were Collier, Thomas Brett
Thomas Brett (nonjuror)
Thomas Brett was an English nonjuring clergyman known as an author.-Life:He was the son of Thomas Brett of Spring Grove, Wye, Kent. His father descended from a family settled at Wye; his mother was Letitia, daughter of John Boys of Betshanger, Sandwich, where Brett was born. He was educated at Wye...
and Roger Laurence
Roger Laurence
Roger Laurence was an English nonjuring priest and controversialist.-Life:The son of Roger Laurence, armorer, he was born 18 March 1670, and admitted on the royal mathematical foundation to Christ's Hospital in April 1679, from the ward of St Botolph, Bishopsgate, on the presentation of Sir John...
, all of whom participated in the Usages Controversy that divided the Nonjuring community.
The Usages party, freed from the oversight of the established church, advocated the reintroduction of four elements to the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
— the invocation of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
, the oblation
Oblation
Oblation, an offering , a term, particularly in ecclesiastical usage, for a solemn offering or presentation to God.-Bible usage:...
, the mixed chalice, and the prayers for the dead
Prayer for the dead
Wherever there is a belief in the continued existence of man's personality through and after death, religion naturally concerns itself with the relations between the living and the dead...
. The first effort at creating such a liturgy was published in 1718, with the liturgy being drafted by Deacon and Brett. Many Non-jurors, even some who thought the usages acceptable, thought that this effort came at an inopportune time. Brett would later rejoin the main Non-Usages party in 1732, but his partner, Deacon, remained true to his belief that the Usages were a necessary part of the true and efficacious Eucharist. Scottish bishop Archibald Campbell
Archibald Campbell (bishop)
Archibald Campbell was a clergyman of the Scottish Episcopal Church who served as Bishop of Aberdeen. He was the son of Lord Neill Campbell by his wife Lady Vere Ker; his grandfathers were Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, and William Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian.He was a student of the...
would consecrate Deacon and Laurence as bishops of what now became the Orthodox British Church (1733).
Deacon's interest in liturgics and spirituality are evidenced in his Compleat Collection of Devotions (1734). This book included a new liturgy, "The Order of the Divine Offices of the Orthodox British Church," which replaced the earlier one from 1718. In this liturgy Deacon added other ancient liturgical practices including infant communion. The book also included excerpts from John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
's `Essay upon the Stationary Fasts'. Wesley met Deacon through John Clayton of Manchester who had been part of Wesley's Oxford group, which led to the invitation of the future Methodist founder to contribute to the book. Though never becoming an official Anglican liturgy, Deacon's incorporation of ancient Christian liturgies and reclaiming of the doctrine of eucharistic sacrifice would influence later liturgical developments.
His most important work A Full, True, and Comprehensive View of Christianity (1747) included two catechisms, a detailed theological commentary on the Compleat Collection of Devotions, and the development of a sacramental theology that extended the number of sacraments to twelve. Among the offices added were confirmation, marriage, ordination, and infant communion.
Deacon was buried in the churchyard of Manchester's St. Anne's church.