EVANS, JOHN RICHARDS (1882 - 1969), minister (Presb.) and author

Born 10 January 1882 in Manchester House, Pen-y-graig, Rhondda, Glamorganshire, son of William and Margaret Evans. He was educated in Cardiff High School, Porth secondary school, and, after beginning to preach, in the University College, Cardiff (where he graduated B.A.), and Trefeca and Aberystwyth theological colleges (where he graduated in theology). He was ordained in 1909, and served in the ministry in Bwlch, Brecknock (1906-10), and Bethlehem, Mountain Ash, Glamorganshire (1914-39). He retired from pastoral care in 1939, and lived in Cardiff for the rest of his life. He married in 1941 Anne May Thomas.

He was one of the leading Presbyterians of his day, being Moderator of the Association in the South (1952), and Moderator of the General Assembly (1955). He and Bishop W.T. Havard were the first presidents of the Council of Churches in Wales; he represented the churches in Wales in the first Congress of the World Churches Council. He also represented his Connexion in the Presbyterian Alliance. In 1938 he delivered the Davies Lecture Cristnogaeth a'r Bywyd Da, which was published in 1941. Prior to that he had published a useful textbook on the prophets, Y Proffwydi a'u cenadwri (1923). He wrote much for the Goleuad, Y Drysorfa and Traethodydd, being one of the editors of the latter from 1952 until his death. He died 10 February 1969, and was buried in the family grave, in Trealaw, Rhondda.

Author

• Reverend Gomer Morgan Roberts, (1904 - 1993)

Sources

• Y Traethodydd, 1969, 134-6
• Blwyddiadur y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, 1970, 279-80
• information from his widow (per M.R. Mainwaring, Cardiff)
• personal knowledge

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20733636

Published date: 2001

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