Across the globe there will be fond memories of his kind and genuine acts of love
Father James, as he was fondly known, responded to his “home call” on Monday, April 20, soon after the Second Sunday after Easter. He must have spent the last weeks of his life with the events of the Resurrected Christ’s appearances on his mind:to Mary Magdalene on Easter morning to most disciples in the Upper Room on Easter evening a week later to all disciples, when Thomas confessed in faith - “My Lord and my God!”
Fr. James would have reflected on these on his sick bed, and most likely prepared to accept the call to eternity! He was only two months short of reaching a well lived 94 years.
Latika (nee Samarasinghe) his beloved wife and companion in life and ministry, and children - Prasadini & Ricky Deckker (Dubai), Deveshta (Sydney), Jayadeva, Helen & kids Grace and Toby (UK), would have anticipated his possible response, as he took ill only two weeks before.
The day and the context of his departure was such that the family and the Bishop of Colombo decided to do the last rites at the Kanatte crematorium in the afternoon on the same day, with the assistance of the Archdeacon of Colombo. This must have been a difficult and painful experience for the loved ones to bid farewell to their loving and affectionate husband, Dad and granddad and father-in-law. To numerous past parishioners, close friends and family, fellow colleagues in ministry, students in schools and Peradeniya University graduates – now spread around the globe - his passing would have evoked a series of reflections of fond memories of his kind and genuine acts of love.
I first came to know Fr. James as the Chaplain at St John’s College Jaffna while I was a student at Jaffna College in the 1960s. He was one of the leading guest speakers at different forums- YMCA, SCM, JICCF camps and retreats, Cathedral
Vesper Services and in Pentecost festivals at the Christa Seva Ashram, Chunnakam. Also under the auspices of Jaffna Christian Union, Fort Church Conventions attracted outstanding Christian leaders like Bishops Sabapathy Kulendran, and Lakshman Wickremasinghe, Rev Dr D.T. Niles, Rev. A.J. C. Selvaratnam, Fr. James, Messrs. G. N. Edwards, K. G. Arasaratnam, R. E. J. A. Setukavalar, K. Nesiah and K. Pooranampillai, and others from overseas as well. Among the organisers were mainly the College Principals, missionaries including Chaplain Ben Bavinck at Jaffna College, Vaddukoddai.
Fr. James was a handsome, tall and elegant gentleman. His preaching was full of anecdotes, humour and theological insights. He was fluent in English and Tamil. He graduated from Madras Christian College (MCC), and later pursued theological studies in England. His mastery of English was evident and he had a touch of a British accent. His wide reading and passion for Anglican liturgy was evident in his presentations at lectures and worship. He spoke Tamil with words and phrases of his era and was fascinating to listen to.
His theological outlook and churchmanship revolved around Anglo-Catholic liturgy and theologians of his student days and adulthood. He embraced Asian and Latin-American liberation theologies, focusing on justice and peace for all communities. However he stood against the use of violence in freedom struggles. He promoted dialogue and negotiation as means to achieve harmony and peace with justice.
My association with Fr. James became very close when I served the Church in Colombo from 1987 until 1991 residing at the parsonages in Fussels Lane and Frances Road, Wellawatte. He was then at Holy Trinity Church nearby.
As I was the only CSI minister in Colombo, Fr. James became my confidant and guide offering pastoral support to me. It was the war years when travelling between Jaffna and Colombo became impossible and communications were cut off. In these circumstances I found it difficult to communicate with my Bishop in Jaffna, except for occasional letters passed through those who travelled for emergency needs.
In return to his kind services to me in ministry, I offered to occasionally lead Tamil worship of his church, while he blessed the bread and wine. In addition, I was able to take him around for ‘Home Communion’ on Sundays once a month soon after morning services were over. To my satisfaction, whenever my Bishop happened to come to Colombo, I took him to meet Fr. James. The Bishop cherished these meetings. Fr James too enjoyed them as he was able to get firsthand information on the situation in the North.
In 1995, my family and I migrated to Australia at the invitation of the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne to minister to the Tamil Christian Congregation of Victoria (TCCV). Fr. James was unhappy that we were leaving the homeland and the home church for ‘greener pastures’. However, he prayed with us and blessed us prior to our leaving the shores. We visited him and Latika every time we returned to Sri Lanka. They were delighted to see us and happy to hear about their past parishioners now resident in Melbourne.
It was in February 2019, that we last met them at his residence within the Cathedral premises. Our memories of Fr. James will remain with us until we too receive “our home call.”
May the Crucified and Risen Lord grant his loved ones comfort and consolation at this time of grieving! May Fr. James find rest eternal!