Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Brock, William John
BROCK, WILLIAM JOHN (1817?–1863), religious writer, born about 1817, married about 1845, in 1847 brought out a small volume of poems, 'Wayside Verses,' dating the preface London, 22 Sept.; and obtaining after this the degree of B.A., he took orders, and entered the church as curate of St. George's, Barnsley, Yorkshire (Twenty-seven Sermons, 2nd ed. p. 314). In 1855 he published at Barnsley, and by subscription, 'Twenty-seven Sermons,' in one volume, a publication which was quickly out of print (preface to 2nd ed.); and leaving Barnsley in 1858 to become incumbent of Hayfield, Derbyshire, Brock brought out a second edition of this book, dating it Hayfield Parsonage, 22 Sept. 1858, and adding to it the farewell sermon he had preached on leaving Barnsley. He died at Hayfield on 27 April 1863, and was buried there. After his death were published 'The Rough Wind stayed,' a volume of 'The Library of Excellent Literature,' 1867, and 'The Bright Light in the Clouds,' 1870.
[Brock's Wayside Verses, pp. 50, 76, 131; private information.]