Llewelyn David Bevan
Encyclopedia
Llewelyn David Bevan was a Congregational minister and academic active in Australia
.
Ordained in 1865, Bevan assisted Thomas Binney
at King's Weigh House Chapel; then 1869-75 was minister of Tottenham Court Chapel
and the building, one of the largest churches in London, was often crowded.
Bevan married Louisa Jane, née Willett in Southampton on 2 April 1870.
In 1873 Bevan won the Marylebone seat on the London School Board
supporting 'free, compulsory and secular' education. In 1874 Bevan visited the United States of America and ministered at the Central Church, Brooklyn for two months. Bevan subsequently received offers from several churches including the Collins Street Independent Church, Melbourne
, Australia, before accepting to minister at the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City
in 1876. Bevan became moderator of the New York Presbytery in 1880. Awarded a doctorate by Princeton University
in 1882, Bevan moved back to London where he was urged to stand for Parliament. Partly because his family's health often suffered during the winter months, Bevan decided instead to accept a fourth offer to minister at the Collins Street Independent Church.
but he declined. Bevan was also a collector of books and antique ceramics; and a recognized student of Henrik Ibsen
.
In February 1910 Bevan became principal of Parkin (Congregational) College, Adelaide, a position he held until his death.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Early life
Bevan was born in Llanelly, Carmarthen, Wales, son of Hopkin Bevan, actuary, and his wife Eliza, née Davies, a Congregational minister's daughter. Bevan had plans for a legal career, but was converted by the preaching of Henry Grattan Guinness. Bevan studied at New College, then at the University of London (B.A., 1862 and LL.B. 1865) .Ordained in 1865, Bevan assisted Thomas Binney
Thomas Binney
The Rev. Dr. Thomas Binney was an English Congregationalist divine of the 19th century, popularly known as the 'Archbishop of Nonconformity'...
at King's Weigh House Chapel; then 1869-75 was minister of Tottenham Court Chapel
and the building, one of the largest churches in London, was often crowded.
Bevan married Louisa Jane, née Willett in Southampton on 2 April 1870.
In 1873 Bevan won the Marylebone seat on the London School Board
London School Board
The School Board for London was an institution of local government and the first directly elected body covering the whole of London....
supporting 'free, compulsory and secular' education. In 1874 Bevan visited the United States of America and ministered at the Central Church, Brooklyn for two months. Bevan subsequently received offers from several churches including the Collins Street Independent Church, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia, before accepting to minister at the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1876. Bevan became moderator of the New York Presbytery in 1880. Awarded a doctorate by Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1882, Bevan moved back to London where he was urged to stand for Parliament. Partly because his family's health often suffered during the winter months, Bevan decided instead to accept a fourth offer to minister at the Collins Street Independent Church.
Australia
Bevan and his family arrived in Melbourne aboard the Valetta on 6 November 1886, Bevan was to be a leader of Protestant intellectual life in Melbourne for the next 23 years. Bevan was chairman of the Congregational Union of Victoria and a vice-president of Congregational international councils at London in 1891 and Boston in 1899. He was also chairman of the jury of education at the Melbourne Centennial International Exhibition, 1888, for which he was honoured by the French government; in 1891 Bevan served on a parliamentary committee to study the educational systems of Germany, France, and the United States. Bevan was also a supporter of Federation, some urged him to contest the seat of CorangamiteDivision of Corangamite
The Division of Corangamite is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election...
but he declined. Bevan was also a collector of books and antique ceramics; and a recognized student of Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
.
In February 1910 Bevan became principal of Parkin (Congregational) College, Adelaide, a position he held until his death.
Late life
Bevan was a sufferer of diabetes and ultimately peripheral vascular disease and died on 19 July 1918, he was survived by his wife, three sons and four daughters.External links
- Bevan, Llewelyn David entry at the Dictionary of Welsh Biography
- Biographical cuttings on Llewelyn David Bevan at National Library of Australia