Read more about C S Lewis in the St Mark's & C S Lewis Page
People often ask the question : What inspired C.S. Lewis when he came to write about the wonderful world of Narnia ?
Here at St. Mark's we think that we might just have a little piece of the answer to that particular puzzle.
It is generally accepted by his biographers that when Lewis came to write his stories his mind turned back the years to his own childhood for inspiration. So, we picture him as a young boy, around seven years of age, going to visit with his grandfather, Thomas Hamilton, first Rector of this parish. A formidable clergyman in the Victorian tradition; long silvery beard, furrowed brow and piercing eyes. You can see photos of him elsewhere on this site.
The young Lewis goes visiting to the home of his grandfather, the building known to us as "The Old Rectory", that still stands in the grounds of the church. As he stands at the door of this imposing church house, waiting to be let in, there at eye level to this young boy is the door pull. There in front of him looks out the head of a lion. The lion of St. Mark ? Or a lion from some far of place...
Is this the image that inspired Aslan?
Tradition would always consider the lion the symbol of St. Mark. For Lewis it became something more in the allegory of Narnia.
For Lewis, when he quarried his childhood memories and discovered Narnia, was he journeying back to that first family of faith of which he was a part, the congregation at St. Mark's Church? After all, St. Mark's was the place of C.S. Lewis' baptism, the beginning of his life of faith.
Were his first reminiscences of the church characterised in childhood memories of his grandfathers doorstep, of the Lion looking him in the eye as he stood at the door and knocked...
A little piece of the puzzle that is the question, "What inspired Lewis?". Does it fit for you ?
Read more about C S Lewis in the St Mark's & C S Lewis Page
