Evan Lewis (Dean)
Encyclopedia
Evan Lewis was a Welsh
clergyman who was Dean
of Bangor Cathedral
from 1884 until his death.
, Ceredigion
and named after his father who had died before Lewis was born. Lewis was educated at the grammar schools in Ystrad Meurig
and Aberystwyth
, as well as at a school in Twickenham
run by his father's brother. He then followed his brother (David Lewis
) to Jesus College, Oxford
, matriculating
on 7 April 1838. He obtained his B.A
degree in 1841 and his M.A. in 1863. Whilst at college, he rowed at stroke
in the college boat
when it was Head of the River
.
He was ordained deacon and priest in 1842 by the Bishop of Bangor
, Christopher Bethell
. He held a succession of church positions. He was curate
of various churches on Anglesey
– Llanddeusant
(1842–43), Llanfaes
with Penmon (1843–45), Llanfihangel Ysgeifiog (1845–46) – before becoming curate of Llanllechid in Caernarfonshire
in 1847. He left this position in 1859 to become vicar
of Aberdare
in Glamorgan
, returning to North Wales in 1866 as rector of Dolgellau
, Merionethshire
, remaining until 1884. During this time, he was also rural dean
of Ystumanner (1866–84), chancellor of Bangor Cathedral
(1872–76) and canon
residentiary (1877–84). In 1884, he was appointed as Dean of the cathedral, and held this position until his death, in the Deanery, on 24 November 1904. He was buried in the churchyard at Llandegai
, Caernarfonshire, near to the grave of Bishop Bethell.
) in Y Cymro, which were later published in book format. A Welsh-language treatise on the apostolic succession
, Yr olyniaeth apostolaidd gan offeiriad Cymreig (1851), was his main work, although he also wrote on other issues, translated hymns into Welsh and helped with the creation of a hymn book for the Bangor diocese.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
clergyman who was Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of Bangor Cathedral
Bangor Cathedral
Bangor Cathedral is an ancient place of Christian worship situated in Bangor, Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It is dedicated to its founder, Saint Deiniol....
from 1884 until his death.
Life
Lewis was born in LlanilarLlanilar
Llanilar is a village in Ceredigion, Wales, about 4 kilometres southeast of Aberystwyth.- History & Amenities :The village was built along the southern side of the River Ystwyth and contains a parish church, Nonconformist chapel, post office, primary school, GP Surgery and garage. The church is...
, Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
and named after his father who had died before Lewis was born. Lewis was educated at the grammar schools in Ystrad Meurig
Ystrad Meurig
Ystrad Meurig is a village in Ceredigion, Wales. It lies on the B4340 road northwest of the town of Tregaron.- History & Amenities :...
and Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
, as well as at a school in Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
run by his father's brother. He then followed his brother (David Lewis
David Lewis (priest)
David Lewis was a Welsh Anglican priest and academic who converted to Roman Catholicism under the influence of John Henry Newman.-Life:...
) to Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
, matriculating
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
on 7 April 1838. He obtained his B.A
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1841 and his M.A. in 1863. Whilst at college, he rowed at stroke
Boat positions (sport rowing)
In the sport of rowing, each rower is numbered by boat position in ascending order from the bow to the stern . The person who is seated on the first seat is always the 'bowman', or more commonly called just 'bow', the closest to the stern is commonly referred to as the 'strokeman' or 'stroke'...
in the college boat
Jesus College Boat Club (Oxford)
Jesus College Boat Club is a rowing club for members of Jesus College, Oxford, one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford...
when it was Head of the River
Head of the River
A Head of the River race is a rowing race, held as a procession race against the clock, with the winning crew receiving the title of "Head of the River"...
.
He was ordained deacon and priest in 1842 by the Bishop of Bangor
Bishop of Bangor
The Bishop of Bangor is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Bangor.The diocese covers the counties of Anglesey, most of Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire and a small part of Montgomeryshire...
, Christopher Bethell
Christopher Bethell
Christopher Bethell was Bishop of Bangor.Bethell was the second son of the Reverend Richard Bethell, the rector of St Peter's Wallingford, Berkshire, who died 12 January 1806 having married his wife Ann in 1771...
. He held a succession of church positions. He was curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
of various churches on Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
– Llanddeusant
Llanddeusant, Anglesey
Llanddeusant is a small linear village, on Anglesey, North Wales about north east of Holyhead. The village takes it names from its parish church which is dedicated to St. Marcellus and Saint Marcellina....
(1842–43), Llanfaes
Llanfaes
Llanfaes is a small village on the island of Anglesey, Wales, located on the shore of the eastern entrance to the Menai Strait, the tidal waterway separating Anglesey from the north Wales coast.- History :...
with Penmon (1843–45), Llanfihangel Ysgeifiog (1845–46) – before becoming curate of Llanllechid in Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire , historically spelled as Caernarvonshire or Carnarvonshire in English during its existence, was one of the thirteen historic counties, a vice-county and a former administrative county of Wales....
in 1847. He left this position in 1859 to become vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Aberdare
Aberdare
Aberdare is an industrial town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Dare and Cynon. The population at the census was 31,705...
in Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
, returning to North Wales in 1866 as rector of Dolgellau
Dolgellau
Dolgellau is a market town in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, lying on the River Wnion, a tributary of the River Mawddach. It was the county town of the former county of Merionethshire .-History and economy:...
, Merionethshire
Merionethshire
Merionethshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, a vice county and a former administrative county.The administrative county of Merioneth, created under the Local Government Act 1888, was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 on April 1, 1974...
, remaining until 1884. During this time, he was also rural dean
Rural Dean
In the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church, a Rural Dean presides over a Rural Deanery .-Origins and usage:...
of Ystumanner (1866–84), chancellor of Bangor Cathedral
Bangor Cathedral
Bangor Cathedral is an ancient place of Christian worship situated in Bangor, Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It is dedicated to its founder, Saint Deiniol....
(1872–76) and canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
residentiary (1877–84). In 1884, he was appointed as Dean of the cathedral, and held this position until his death, in the Deanery, on 24 November 1904. He was buried in the churchyard at Llandegai
Llandegai
Llandygai is a small village on the A5 road between Bangor and Tal-y-Bont in Gwynedd, Wales. It affords a view of the nearby Carneddau mountain range.-Prehistory:There is evidence of human occupation of this site from Neolithic times....
, Caernarfonshire, near to the grave of Bishop Bethell.
Religious views
Lewis and his brother David were both influenced by the Tractarian movement whilst studying at Oxford. David was John Henry Newman's curate and converted with him to Roman Catholicism. Evan Lewis did not convert, but preached Tractarian views and practices in Wales. When this led to controversy, he defended his position in letters (in WelshWelsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
) in Y Cymro, which were later published in book format. A Welsh-language treatise on the apostolic succession
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
, Yr olyniaeth apostolaidd gan offeiriad Cymreig (1851), was his main work, although he also wrote on other issues, translated hymns into Welsh and helped with the creation of a hymn book for the Bangor diocese.