50 YEARS A MINISTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21515, 12 June 1933, Page 10

50 YEARS A MINISTER

ARCHDEACON F. G. EVANS busy anniversary day LONG PERIOD IN TARANAKI [BY TF.LEGRAPH OWN (OK RESPONDENT] XEW PLYMOUTH, Sunday Archdeacon F. G. Evans to-day completed 50 years' service as a priest of the Anglican Church and he celebrated the occasion by taking no fower than three services in different parts of North Taranaki, Rahotu, Puniho and Fitzroy. Of the 50 years Archdeacon Evans has spent >37 in New Plymouth. Born in Chester, England, in 1857, Mr. Evans is the son of the late Rev. William Evans, minister of City Street Church, Chester. He received his education in Chester and came to New Zealand by invitation in 1879. The following year he entered St. John's College, Auckland. He was ordained deacon in 1881 and received appointment as curate to Canon Bates at Devonport. Two years later came his ordination to tho priesthood and this was followed in tho same year by appointment as vicar of the Northcote-cum-Takapuna parish. In 1884 he moved to the Thames parish and in 1889 was appointed to 1e Aroha. Seven years later he left To Aroha for New Plymouth. On the death of Archdeacon Govett in 1898 he was appointed'vicar of St. Mary's and occupied that position until he resigned in 1911. This was followed by his appointment as archdeacon of Taranaki in January, 1912. For no fewer than 28 years bo was archdeacon of the province and uj)on his resignation in 1930 ho was appointed archdeacon emeritus. While vicar of St. Mary's, Archdeacon Evans took his TH.L. degree at the Australian College of Theology in 1903. Aclideacon Evans has been very interested in the Army. From 1885 to 1889 ho was chaplain to the Thames Navals and Rifles and from 1892 to 1896 was chaplain to the Te Aroha Bifies. In his first year at New Plymouth he was appointed chaplain to the Taranaki Rifles and when the new system of military organisation wai adopted became chaplain to the 11th Taranaki Regiment, a position which he held up to 1917. From January, 1916, to February, 1917, he sprved as, chaplain on the hospital ship Maheno.

Archdeacon Evans was married in 189S to Miss M. Govett, daughter of Archdeacon Govett, of New Plymouth. Mrs. Evans has always been a splendid helper to her husband, travelling with him on many occasions on his long journeys through the back blocks of Taranaki.