John Silas Evans

[2] Canon Silas Evans had a profound interest in the history of the parish of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, where he served as vicar for most of his life.

[2] This was also the residence of another illustrious historical personage associated with the area, Dr William Morgan, who served as vicar of St Dogfans between 1578 and 1588[3] and translated the Bible into the Welsh language.

Evans expressed his interest in the social, archeological and religious history of his parish in a Welsh language publication entitled Hanes Plwyf Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant ('The History of the parish of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant') first published in 1940 and translated into English by Ceinwen Edwards in 1998.

[4] Evans wrote at length about the interior of the Church of St Dogfans, describing it as 'beautiful' and noting 'that the building is very old, though, naturally, it has been restored many times.

In the author's preface, Evans dedicates his book 'to my constant and faithful companion, my old Refractor telescope'.

In his introduction to the book Evans defines these rhetorical pieces as 'a short series of sermons, or addresses, of an astronomical character, on the religious aspect of the science.

In 1949 Evans published Myfyrion min yr hwyr, (Evening Reflections) a volume of Welsh language preaching and addresses.

Evans' work participates in a tradition of famous scientific churchmen such as John Donne, the metaphysical poet and Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, whose well-known interest in astronomy and the Scientific Revolution found expression in his religious sermons as well as his lyric poetry.

Evans enjoyed a high reputation for his sermons within his lifetime and preached at St. Paul's Cathedral in London in 1939.