Deacon, Dr Thomas
1697-1753

A leading Manchester non-juror and Jacobite sympathiser, who also practised as a physician. He was the author of A Complete Collection of Devotions (1734) which John Wesley read on the voyage to Georgia, having been introduced to him by John Clayton just before he embarked. The Collection was based on the 'Apostolic Constitutions' and other early liturgies and on the first Prayer Book of Edward VI. Deacon advocated prayers for the dead and the signation in baptism and held a view of the Eucharistic sacrifice similar to that taken by the Wesleys from Daniel Brevint. His influence can be clearly traced in John Wesley's practices during his Georgia ministry. The Collection also included hymns which, though of indifferent literary quality, may have given Wesley the idea of publishing the Charlestown Hymn-Book.

Sources
  • WHS Proceedings, 13 pp.26-29
  • Oxford DNB