James H. Evans

Evans, James Harrington, M.A., son of the Rev. Dr. Evans, priest-vicar of Salisbury Cathedral, was born. April 15, 1785, and educated at Wadham College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1803, and became a Fellow in 1805. Taking Holy Orders in 1808 he remained in the Church of England until 1815, when he seceded, and became a Baptist Minister. He was the Minister of John Street Baptist Chapel, Gray's Inn Road, London, for many years. He died at Stonehaven, Scotland, Dec. 1, 1849. His Memoir and Remains were published by his son in 1852. In addition to various prose works, Dialogues on Important Subjects, 1819; Checks to Infidelity, 1840; and others, he also published:—

Hymns, Selected Chiefly for Public Worship, London, printed by E. Justius, 1818. This edition contained 179 hymns, several of which he wrote. This Selection was enlarged from time to time; the 3rd edition, 1822, contained 211 hymns; and the last, 1843, 451 hymns. Of his hymns, “Change is our portion here," and "Faint not, Christian, though the road," are the best known. Mr. Evans contributed to Carus Wilson's Friendly Visitor of 1827, &c., under the signature of "Alix." [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.]

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)