EVANS, Evan, clergyman, born in Wales; died in Harford County, Maryland, in October 1721. He was educated in England, entered the ministry of the established Church, and, on the grant of a royal bounty of £50 to Christ Church, Philadelphia, was appointed its second rector in 1700 by Dr. Compton, lord bishop of London. He at once became a leader, and had such power that many visiting Philadelphia were deeply impressed by his preaching, and formed congregations when they returned to their homes. His duties, not the least of which was his work among young men over whom he exercised great influence, were thereby much increased. In visiting these congregations he often traveled fifty or sixty miles, through Pennsylvania, West Jersey, and Delaware. The chief of them were Radnor and Oxford, and his Church at the former place, where there was a colony of Episcopalians from Radnorshire, Wales, is represented in the accompanying illustration.

He went to England in 1707 on private business, and urged that a bishop should be sent to the colonies, and on his return in 1709 brought the communion service presented by Queen Anne to Christ Church. He visited England again in 1716 "on some family concerns," and while there received the degree of D.D. from one of the universities, and was appointed missionary at Oxford and Radnor, in addition to Christ Church. Having been presented to St. George's parish, Harford County, by the governor of Maryland, he resigned his former charge on 15 February 1718. While on a visit shortly afterward, he was seized with an apoplectic fit in the pulpit of Christ Church on Sunday, and died on the following Wednesday. During his ministry he baptized 800 persons, about 500 of whom had belonged to the society of Friends, whose members flocked to hear him in great numbers.