EVANS, JOHN (1779 - 1847), cleric, afterwards Calvinistic Methodist minister

Born October 1779 at Cwm-gwen, Llanfihangel Iorath parish, Carmarthenshire, son of John and Rachel Evans. He was brought up as an Independent but, after hearing David Jones (1736 - 1810) of Llan-gan preach at Gwaun Ifor, he joined the Methodists there, and later at New Inn. He was educated by some of the local clerics and afterwards opened his own school at Llanpumpsaint where, in 1796, he began to preach. In 1798 he went to Carmarthen Presbyterian College, but the length of his stay there is not known.

Some time c. 1808 he married a widow who lived at Llwynffottun, Llanegwad, in the vale of Towy. He was ordained deacon c. 1809 by bishop Watson of Llandaff and officiated for short periods as curate at Mynydd-islwyn, Newport, Monmouth, Bridgend, and Laleston, but, having roused antagonism by his Methodism, returned to Llwynffortun. He served yet another period as curate of Llanddowror, but was never priested. As far back as 1801 he had been christening children at Water Street church, Carmarthen, and in 1811 he accepted ordination by the Methodists at their first ordination at Llandilo. His second wife was Rachel, daughter of John Davies of Pen-twyn, Llan-non, Carmarthenshire, and it was in her home that he spent the remainder of his life.

Nobody of his own generation was more popular in the whole of Wales. He was a strange creature, liable to fits of melancholy, but because of his handsome appearance, his genial and kindly nature, his melodious voice, and his wit, he was the idol of his hearers. 'Old Llwynffortun,' as he was called, could rouse his hearers to spiritual ecstasy by the charm of his preaching. He died 6 October 1847 and was buried at Pen-twyn.

Author

• Reverend Gomer Morgan Roberts, (1904 - 1993)

Sources

• Y Drysorfa, 1847, 353-4
• T. J. Williams, Hanes bywyd y Parch. John Evans, Llwynffortun dan nawdd Cyfarfod Misol Sir Gaerfyrddin (1848, 1849)
• E. Pan Jones, Oriel Coleg Presbyteraidd, Caerfyrddin: yn cynwys hanes yr holl fyfyrwyr fu yn y coleg o 1796 hyd 1899 (Merthyr Tydfil 1909), 21
• D. E. Jenkins, Life of Thomas Charles (Denbigh 1908), iii, 260
• Owen Thomas, Cofiant y Parchedig John Jones, Talsarn: mewn cysylltiad a hanes duwinyddiaeth a phregethu Cymru (Wrexham 1874), 872-8

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: John Evans

Images

• John Thomas, Parch J Evans New Inn
• Richard Woodman, Revd. John Evans, Cross-Inn, Carmarthenshire

Additional Links

• VIAF: 48880071
• Wikidata: Q6231984

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/