Preece Family Tree

A CELEBRATED MINISTER.

DEATH OF THE REV. D. SILYN EVANS.

FIFTY YEARS' PASTORATE AT ABERDARE.

The Rev. D. Silyn Evans, for fifty years minister of Siloa Welsh Congregational Church, Aberdare, died suddenly on Thursday night at his home, 19, Tanybryn-street, Aberdare. He was in his 80th year.

Two years ago he collapsed from a heart attack in Siloa pulpit and never fully recovered.

Born at Gwernogle, he received his training for the ministry at Brecon Memorial College, and was ordained at Moriah, Rhymney, in 1873.

Although of late years Mr. Evans took little part in public life, he found ample scope for his literary gifts. He wrote at least a dozen Sunday School lesson books, and the biography of at least three preachers of the denomination, including that of his predecessor at Aberdare, the Rev. David Price. He had conducted the magazine for the "Young People of Wales" and "The Children's Instructor."

His contributions under "From Hill to Hill" in "The Tyst," the weekly organ of the denomination, formed one of its most interesting features.

Mr. Evans occupied the chair of the Glamorgan association of the denomination, and was for some time secretary of the Welsh Congregational Union. In 1911 he filled the chair of the union at Liverpool.

Upon obtaining his "majority" at Siloa he was presented by the lady members with a gift of 100 guineas, while upon the completion of 40 years as pastor of the church he was the recipient of a representative testimonial approaching in value the sum of £1,000.

He leaves a widow and three sons.

"SILYN EVANS."

The Rev. D. Silyn Evans, of Aberdare, who has been elected chairman of the Union of Welsh Independents, is one of the "characters" of the Welsh pulpit, says the Christian World. Born at Gwernogle, Carmarthenshire, sixty-one years ago, he began to preach before he was twenty, and after a course of training at the Brecon College, was ordained as pastor of Moriah Church, Rhymney. Seven years later he removed to Ebbw Vale, but only remained there a short time, as he accepted the pastorate of Siloah Church, Aberdare, where, for over thirty years, he has ministered with marked success. He is not only a great preacher, but also an author of repute. He has published several works in the Welsh language, and is the editor of the weekly Tarian y Gweithiwr and the monthly Dysgedydd y Plant.