Evan was born in Wales educated at
Airedale College,
Yorkshire, and graduated B.A. from
London University. In 1855 he was serving as pastor for the Independent Church at
Saint Peter Port,
Guernsey, when he was approached by the Revs. Thomas Binney and George Smith, who had been charged by the Congregational church of Freeman Street, Adelaide, with recruiting a young minister to act as coadjutor (assistant) to the aged and ailing Rev.
T. Q. Stow. He arrived on the
James Baines on 27 October 1855, and preached his first sermons at the Freeman Street chapel on 4 November 1855. In 1861, responding to his deteriorating health
Charles Manthorpe was brought in as co-pastor. Rev. Evan was involved in the planning and erection of the Stow Memorial Church as a replacement for the Freeman Street chapel, which began in mid-1863, and opened in April 1867. He was closely involved with the Adelaide Young Men's Association, a non-sectarian
literary society. Evan and his family lived at Hagen House,
East Terrace, where on 2 January 1869 his wife Ellen (née Pearce) gave birth to a daughter, her eighth child, and died on 21 January 1869. He suffered ill health and was forced to retire, being replaced by the Rev.
C. B. Symes in March 1872. He returned to England, but died aboard the
SS Torrens before disembarkation. ==Family==