Davies, Evan (1)

an English Congregational minister, was born at Hengwm, Cardiganshire, in 1805. He was carefully trained, as a Calvinistic Methodist; experienced conversion in early manhood in London, whither he had gone to engage in business; joined the Congregationalists; studied at Neuaddlwyd Academy, and at the Western Academy; and settled as minister first at Great Torrington, North Devon, for a short time; was sent by the London Missionary Society, after ordination, in 1835, to Penang, China, where he devoted himself incessantly to the study of the Chinese language, established a Christian school for native children, and preached to the English soldiers stationed there. Mr. Davies returned to England in 1840, travelled as missionary agent until 1844, when he accepted the oversight of the Congregational Church in Richmond, Surrey. In 1857 he removed to Heywood, Lancashire, remained there two years, then went to Dalston, and finally to Hornsey, where he died, June 18, 1864.: Mr. Davies was the author of the following works: China and her Spiritual Claims: — Memoirs of the Reverend Samuel Dyer: — An Appeal to the Reason and Good Conscience of Catholics: — Lectures on the Sabbath; and editor of the following works: Letters of the late Reverend Samuel Dyer to his Children; Lectures on Christian Theology; by the late Reverend Dr.

Payne; and The Works of the late Reverend Dr. Edward Williams of Rotherham. His notes on Original Sin and Baptism, which appear in his edition of Dr. Williams's works, evince great power as a thinker. See (Lond.) Cong. Year-book, 1865, page 234.