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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

The Rev. William Albert Evans

The Rev. William Albert Evans, in charge of the Forward Movement in Wellington, was born at Velindre, Llangyfelach, South Wales, on the 29th of November, 1857. He received his preliminary education at Ammanford Academy in South Wales, and afterwards at Springhill College, Birmingham, finishing with a special course at the Cardiff University. After his ordination as pastor of the Bridge End Congregational Church, Glamorganshire, and while there Mr. Evans attended classes in biology and philosophy at the Cardiff University. In September, 1887, he was called to Ryan Congregational Church, Bradford, Yorkshire. In less than a year his health broke down; he offered to resign, but the Church authorities were most anxious that their pastor should allow them to keep the pulpit open for him, in the hope that a trip round the world would recoup his strength sufficiently to admit of his returning to the Church. With this idea Mr. Evans left for this Colony in November, 1888, per steamship “Ruapehu.” Landing in Dunedin in the following March, he was invited to take temporary charge of the Congregational Church in Moray Place. This he did with such satisfaction to those concerned that in the following April he received a unanimous call to the pastorate. But here again ill-health stepped in to prevent his remaining with his newly found friends in Dunedin. It was evident enough that Mr. Evans could not with any hope of success return to Yorkshire; but it was hoped that Dunedin would be sufficiently mild, and accordingly he accepted the call there; but on the day on which he was to enter upon his permanent ministry his health again gave way, and as soon as he was The Rev. William Albert Evans page 407 able, on the advice of his medical attendant, he removed to Nelson. This was in August, 1889, and in the following month Mr. Evans began preaching in the Nelson Congregational Church. In January, 1890, finding the Nelson climate suitable, he accepted full charge, and continued his ministrations for upwards of three years. During this period at Nelson, Mr. Evans was married to Miss Kate Edger, M.A., the third daughter of the late Rev. Samuel Edger, B.A., who was for so many years so prominent a preacher in Auckland. It was Mrs. Evans who, as Miss Edger, was the first lady in the British dominions to receive the distinction of a college degree. Since then the scholastic attainments of Mrs. Evans and her younger sister, Miss Lilian Edger, have been remarkable, both having taken positions as instructresses in the Colleges of Christchurch and Nelson. Mr. Evans's ministrations at Nelson were greatly valued, and it was sincerely regretted by the Church there when he announced his intention of resigning. This he did under the conviction that the conditions inevitably surrounding a sectarian Church were hampering in a measure to one who felt, as he did, that there was a wider sphere of usefulness outside the limits of the strictly orthodox Church. There is, of course, no antagonism whatever between orthodoxy and the principles now enunciated by Mr. Evans as the mouthpiece of the Forward Movement, nor is there any but the most friendly relations between him and the ministers of the body from which he has severed himself. On the contrary, he is and desires to be in constant touch with every worker in the cause of humanity. Two of his brothers are in full connection with the Congregational Church in Wales, the Rev. B. Evans being the pastor in charge at Llanelly, and Mr. J. Evans being in preparation for a college course with a view to entering the ministry. During the two-and-a-half years which Mr. Evans has spent in Wellington, he has made many friends, and, what is of much greater importance, he has induced many whose hands were empty to put them to useful work for the benefit of the community. Unfortunately, his health is still precarious. A few months ago he suffered a collapse from which he has but quite recently recovered; but it is still hoped that he has many years of useful service yet left to him.