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Welsh-born child evangelist and singer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Margaret Jane Bevan Geally (born c. 1894 – December 20, 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.
Margaret Bevan was born in about 1894, at Porth,[2] and raised in Caerphilly. Her father was Rees Bevan, an optician,[3] watchmaker and jeweller.[4] Her uncle was Dr. Gomer Lewis, a preacher in Swansea.[5] A pastor's advice moved her to evangelism.[6]
She earned a certificate from the Glamorgan Welsh Baptist Association in 1909, for passing the examination for entry into the ministry.[7] She was hailed as a "pulpit prodigy" when she preached at Barry Docks later in 1909.[8]
Her mother accompanied her when, in 1910, she embarked on a preaching tour of American cities, especially in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.[9] She also sang, with her mother providing piano accompaniment.[10] That tour was judged a "triumphant" success,[2] and she was encouraged to return for another tour in 1911–1912.[11] On this second tour, she visited the western United States, including an appearance in Denver, Colorado.[12]
Margaret Bevan was still preaching and singing in America in 1914 and 1915, while living in Scranton.[13][14][15] Her parents were living in Scranton at the time too; her father died by suicide in a Scranton charity institution in 1915.[16]
Margaret Bevan married engineer Edgar J. Geally of Scranton in November 1915;[17] both of his parents were from Wales.[18][19] Their first child, a son, was born in Wilkes-Barre in 1918.[20] She was soon after preaching as "Mrs. Maggie Bevan Gealy."[21] She was "Mrs. Margaret B. Gealey" of Kingston, Pennsylvania when she preached at Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1920.[22] In 1923 she played the title role in a Wilkes-Barre production of "Princess Bonnie", a musical to benefit the American Legion.[23]
The Gealys moved to Pittsburgh in 1928 for Edgar's work.[24] In the 1930s and 1940s Margaret was active in the Women's Welsh Club of Pittsburgh, and still involved with music.[25][26][27] She died in 1953.
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