Christopher Andrew Lewis (born 4 February 1944) is a Church of England priest and academic. He was

Dean of St Albans The Dean of St Albans is the head of the Chapter of St Albans Cathedral in the city of St Albans, England in the Diocese of St Albans. As the Dean of St Albans is also the Rector of St Albans, with parochial responsibilities for the largest paris ...

from 1994 to 2003 and Dean of Christ Church from 2003 to 2014.

Early life and education

Lewis was born on 4 February 1944, to Admiral Sir Andrew Lewis and his wife, Rachel Elizabeth (née Leatham). He was educated at

Marlborough College Marlborough College is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English Independent school (United Kingdom), independent boarding school) for pupils aged 13 to 18 in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England. Founded in 1843 for the sons of Church ...

, an all-boys

public school Public school may refer to: * State school (known as a public school in many countries), a no-fee school, publicly funded and operated by the government * Public school (United Kingdom), certain elite fee-charging independent schools in England an ...

in Wiltshire.Lewis, Very Rev. Christopher Andrew PhD in ''Who's Who 2008'' (A & C Black, 2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007
online
(subscription required). Retrieved 12 August 2008 He went on to study sociology and theology at the University of Bristol, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1969. He later returned to studying, and graduated from

Corpus Christi College, Cambridge Corpus Christi College (full name: "The College of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary", often shortened to "Corpus"), is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. From the late 14th century through to the early 19th century ...

with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in theology in 1974. He trained for ordination at Westcott House, Cambridge.

Career

Military service

Lewis served in the Royal Navy from 1961 to 1966. He served aboard a minesweeper during the

Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation The Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation or Borneo confrontation (also known by its Indonesian / Malay name, ''Konfrontasi'') was an armed conflict from 1963 to 1966 that stemmed from Indonesia's opposition to the creation of the Federation of ...

. He was promoted from

acting sub-lieutenant Sub-lieutenant is usually a junior officer rank, used in armies, navies and air forces. In most armies, sub-lieutenant is the lowest officer rank. However, in Brazil, it is the highest non-commissioned rank, and in Spain, it is the second high ...

sub-lieutenant Sub-lieutenant is usually a junior officer rank, used in armies, navies and air forces. In most armies, sub-lieutenant is the lowest officer rank. However, in Brazil, it is the highest non-commissioned rank, and in Spain, it is the second high ...

on 1 September 1965. He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 March 1966. On 17 October 1966, Lewis transferred to the Permanent Royal Navy Reserve in the rank of lieutenant. This ended his full-time military service.

Ordained ministry

Lewis was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1973 and as a priest in 1974. He served as assistant curate of Barnard Castle (1973–76). From 1976 to 1979 he was both Director of the Oxford Institute for Church and Society and a tutor at Ripon College Cuddesdon. He was Senior Tutor at Ripon College Cuddesdon (1979–81) and (Vice Principal) 1981–82. He was also priest-in-charge of Aston Rowant with Crowell from 1978 to 1981. He was Vicar of Spalding from 1982 to 1987 when he was appointed a

canon residentiary A canon (from the Latin , itself derived from the Greek , , "relating to a rule", "regular") is a member of certain bodies in subject to an ecclesiastical rule. Originally, a canon was a cleric living with others in a clergy house or, later, i ...

Canterbury Cathedral Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England. It forms part of a World Heritage Site. It is the cathedral of the Archbishop of Canterbury, currently Justin Welby, leader of the ...

. He was also Director of Ministerial Training for the Diocese of Canterbury from 1989 to 1994. Lewis was Dean of St Albans Cathedral from 1994 to 2003. He was for some time Chairman of the Association of English Cathedrals. In 2003, he was appointed Dean of Christ Church; this made him both head of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford and of the associated college of the University of Oxford. He retired on 4 February 2014, his 70th birthday.Oxford Mail – Dean of Christ Church preparing to retire and start new life in Suffolk
(Accessed 7 May 2104)

Personal life

In 1970, Lewis married Rhona Jane Martindale. They have two sons and one daughter.

References

* ''Crockford's Clerical Directory'' (97th edn, London: Church House Publishing, 2001), p. 455
Announcement on Number 10, Downing Street website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Christopher 1944 births Living people People educated at Marlborough College Alumni of the University of Bristol Alumni of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge 20th-century English Anglican priests 21st-century English Anglican priests Fellows of Christ Church, Oxford Church of England deans Deans of Christ Church, Oxford Deans of St Albans Royal Navy officers