When fourteen years of age, young Evan was apprenticed to a local draper, who was known as a man of literary tastes, and after four years' service in Pontypridd and then at Merthyr,[1] he removed to Liverpool, where in 1857 he commenced to preach in connection with the Welsh congregational church (the Tabernacle), Great Crosshall Street, then under the pastorate of John Thomas (1821–1892).

[2] He was ordained to the pastorate of Libanus Church, Morriston, on 26 June 1862, and almost immediately he stepped into the first rank of the pulpit orators of Wales.

In 1891-2, he filled the chair of the congregational union of England and Wales, and his first presidential address, on "The Free Churches and their own Opportunities," was described by Dr. Andrw Fairbairn as "magnificent", while his second address, delivered at Bradford, on "A Living Church", was by special vote of the assembly ordered to be printed in a cheap form for general circulation.

[3] Throughout his life, Evans took an active part in civic work; he was elected on the first school board at Carnarvon, and on the first county council.

A selection of his editorial "notes" which were remarkable for their freshness and racy quality, was issued shortly after his death by his son-in-law, under the title of "Nodiadau Herber" (Dolgelly, 1897, 8vo, with portrait).

He had just completed, before his final illness, a chapter which he was contributing for a biography of Dr. John Thomas of Liverpool, and a short life of David Rees of Llanelly, which appeared posthumously.