Julian's account is as follows:-
James Harrington Evans, M.A., son of the Rev. Dr. Evans, vicar of Salisbury Cathedral, was born April 15th. 1785 and educated at Wadham College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1803 and became a fellow in 1805. Being ordained in 1808, he remained in the Church of England until 1815, when he seceded and became a Baptist minister. He was the minister of John Street Baptist Chapel, Grays Inn Road, London, for many years. He died at Stonehaven, Scotland on December lst.1849. His "Memoir and Remains" were published by his son in 1852. In addition to various prose works, "Dialogues on Important Subjects", 1819 and "Checks to Infidelity", 1840, and others, he also published "Hymns, Selected Chiefly for Public Worship", London, printed by E. Justius, 1818. This edition contained 179 hymns, several of which he wrote. This selection was enlarged from time to time; the third edition, 1822, contained 211 hymns; and the last, 1843, 451 hymns. Of his hymns, "Change is our portion here" and "Faint not, Christian, though the road" are the best known. Mr. Evans contributed to Carus Wilson's "Friendly Visitor" of 1827, etc. under the signature of 'Alix'.
Evan's hymn in the 'Spiritual Songs' hymn book is number 237, 'Rejoice, ye saints, rejoice and praise, The blessings of redeeming grace". In the "Memoirs and Remains", 1852, this hymn was headed "Praise for Redemption".
Evans's hymn is included in all the editions of the Little Flock Hymn Book from 1856 to 1978.