Margaret Jane Bevan Geally (born – 20 December 1953), also called Maggie Bevan, was a Welsh-born child evangelist and singer, who twice toured the United States as a teenager, giving sermons and recitals in churches.
Early life Margaret Bevan was born in about 1894, at Porth,"Eloquent Girl Preacher Pays Visit to Brooklyn" Brooklyn Daily Eagle (7 February 1911): 18 via Newspapers.com and raised in Caerphilly. Her father was Rees Bevan, an optician,"Welsh Girl Evangelist" Cardiff Times (29 October 1910): 9. watchmaker and jeweller."Girl of Sixteen is Daring Pilot" Spokane Press (10 October 1910): 2. via Newspapers.com Her uncle was Dr. Gomer Lewis, a preacher in Swansea."Welsh Girl Preacher" The Cambrian (28 October 1910): 5. A pastor's advice moved her to evangelism."Two Sermons by Girl Evangelist" Scranton Truth (26 September 1910): 5. via Newspapers.com
She earned a certificate from the Glamorgan Welsh Baptist Association in 1909, for passing the examination for entry into the ministry.Untitled brief note , Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard (2 July 1909): 6. She was hailed as a "pulpit prodigy" when she preached at Barry Docks later in 1909."Girl Evangelist at Barry Docks: Remarkable Young Pulpit Prodigy" Barry Dock News (10 December 1909): 6.
Career Her mother accompanied her when, in 1910, she embarked on a preaching tour of American cities, especially in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio."Young Welsh Girl to Fill Local Pulpit" The Gazette Times (29 March 1912): 9. via Newspapers.com She also sang, with her mother providing piano accompaniment."Girl Evangelist Speaks on Christ" The Tribune-Republican (26 September 1910): 5. via Newspapers.com That tour was judged a "triumphant" success, and she was encouraged to return for another tour in 1911–1912."Girl Preacher on Return Tour" Scranton Truth (16 October 1911): 5. via Newspapers.com On this second tour, she visited the western United States, including an appearance in Denver, Colorado."15-Year-Old Girl to Preach Gospel" Oakland Tribune (15 October 1911): 19. via Newspapers.com
Margaret Bevan was still preaching and singing in America in 1914 and 1915, while living in Scranton."Girl Conducts Revival" Harrisburg Telegraph (24 November 1914): 9. via Newspapers.com"Miss Bevan at Hazleton" Scranton Truth (13 August 1914): 11. via Newspapers.com"Miss Bevan Preaches Here" Wilkes-Barre Record (23 March 1915): 17. via Newspapers.com Her parents were living in Scranton at the time too; her father died by suicide in a Scranton charity institution in 1915."Father of Woman Evangelist Commits Suicide at Charity Institution" The Star-Independent (7 May 1915): 5. via Newspapers.com
Later years Margaret Bevan married engineer Edgar J. Geally of Scranton in November 1915;"Girl Evangelist is Married in Maryland" Scranton Republican (9 November 1915): 3. via Newspapers.com both of his parents were from Wales."Mrs. Peter Gealy has Passed Away" Pittston Gazette (23 February 1938): 5. via Newspapers.com"Peter Gealy, 74, Taken by Death" Scranton Republican (29 May 1934): 11. via Newspapers.com Their first child, a son, was born in Wilkes-Barre in 1918. She was soon after preaching as "Mrs. Maggie Bevan Gealy.""Woman Evangelist at Coxetown Church Feb. 4" Harrisburg Telegraph (24 January 1916): 7. via Newspapers.com She was "Mrs. Margaret B. Gealey" of Kingston, Pennsylvania when she preached at Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1920."Central Square" Cambridge Tribune (30 October 1920): 1. In 1923 she played the title role in a Wilkes-Barre production of "Princess Bonnie", a musical to benefit the American Legion.
The Gealys moved to Pittsburgh in 1928 for Edgar's work."Gealy Accepts Position with Large Company" Scranton Republican (27 March 1928): 23. via Newspapers.com In the 1930s and 1940s Margaret was active in the Women's Welsh Club of Pittsburgh, and still involved with music."Women's Welsh Club Gives Xmas Party" Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (3 December 1932): 11."Welsh Groups' Concert at Monessen Well Received" Daily Republican (16 November 1938): 3. via Newspapers.com"Mt. Lebanon Group Presents Musicale" Pittsburgh Press (14 March 1941): 38. She died in 1953.
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