William Evans (divine)
Welsh Presbyterian minister
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William Evans (d. abt 1719), was a Welsh Presbyterian minister. In 1707, Evans published The Principles of the Christian Religion, which would later be adapted for use teaching adult baptism.[1] While he was pastor at Carmarthen, Evans ran the Carmarthen Academy,[2] teaching divinity students at a collegiate level.[1]
Biography
Evans was educated at the Ystrad Walter College, while the Rev. Rees Prytherch was president of the school.[1][3]
Evans was ordained at Pencader, in 1688[3] and was the pastor there for fifteen years.[1] In 1703, he moved to Carmarthen to become pastor of the presbyterian congregation. He also taught divinity students.[2][1]
In 1707, Evans publishedThe Principles of the Christian Religion in Welsh, which was based on Westminster Assembly's catechism.[1][2] In 1714, he published, and wrote a preface for, Gemmeu Doethineb ("Gems of Wisdom"), a work by his former tutor Rees Prytherch.[1] In 1717, he wrote the preface for Iago ab Dewi's (James Davies') translation of Matthew Henry's Catechism.[1][2]
Evans had numerous patrons. One was Dr. Daniel Williams who bequeathed a sum of money for his work, which was available to Evans' successors.[1]
He retired about 1718.[1]
Death and legacy
Evans died from about 1718[2] to 1720.[1]
He has been called the "founder of the Welsh Academy", apparently because he was the first to teach divinity students at a collegiate level.[1] In 1757, Abel Morgan re-published Evans's Principles of the Christian Religion, which Morgan had adapted for use teaching adult baptism.[1]
