The C S Lewis Trail in Belfast and North Down

The C S LEWIS TRAIL begins in ST MARK'S, DUNDELA, BELFAST, [Church of Ireland, ie the Episcopal Church] which has rich associations with the Lewis family.

The Reverend Thomas Hamilton
[Photo courtesy of Mr R McClure]

St Mark's first Rector was REV THOMAS HAMILTON. He was the grandfather of C S Lewis and lived in the Old Rectory within the church grounds. C S Lewis presented St Mark's with this portrait of his grandfather.

On 29th January 1899, Rev Thomas Hamilton baptised his grandson CLIVE STAPLES LEWIS at the font to the west end of the church.

[Courtesy of the Church of Ireland Representative Church Body. photograph - Mr R McClure]

ALBERT LEWIS, father of C S, was a loyal member of St Mark's. He served as Churchwarden and as the first Sunday School Superintendent. Jointly with his brothers and sisters, Albert gave the church the silver vessels still used for Holy Communion.

Albert Lewis was a successful solicitor in Belfast. C S Lewis, however, did not enjoy a harmonious relationship with his father.

Albert died in 1929. By then C S had become a don at Oxford, and Warren was a career Army officer. In 1932, C S and Warren presented a stained glass window to St Mark's in memory of their parents. The LEWIS WINDOW may be seen in the south aisle.

C S Lewis with his father
[Photo courtesy of the Marion E. Wade Centre]
[not to be reproduced without written permission]

The Lewis Window
[Photo courtesy of Mr R McClure]

Michael Healy, a noted Dublin artist in stained glass, portrayed three Saints - Luke, James and Mark. The English translation of the Latin text reads:

To the greater glory of God and dedicated to the memory of Albert James Lewis, who died on the 25th September 1929, aged 67, and also of his wife, Flora Augusta Hamilton, who died on the 23rd August 1908, aged 47.

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