Ray Lewis died on Good Friday at the early age of 61. Ray was an outstanding Christian leader who had a passion for young black people, to whom he offered leadership opportunities through education and training.
Early days
Ray was born in Guyana and grew up in Walthamstow, east London. He was ordained as a priest in 1990 and worked as a curate at St Mary Magdalene Church in Islington, before becoming vicar of St Matthew’s in east London in 1993.
Ray had links with Prophecy Today magazine back in the early 1990s, when, as a young curate, he attended an in-service training course for clergy organised by the ‘Centre for Contemporary Ministry’, with which this magazine was linked.
His challenge to the values of the establishment both shocked and intrigued older church leaders.
Ray made an instant impact with his infectious sense of humour, overflowing energy and creative thinking. His challenge to the values of the establishment both shocked and intrigued older church leaders. His passion for improving the chances of young black youth at the bottom of society was compelling and forced even the most traditional educationalists to rethink their priorities.
Work among youth
Ray went on to give a period of service in leadership of a young offenders’ institution where black boys were in the majority. He dedicated his life to creating opportunities for them to break out of the ghettos of deprivation that shackled their lives in inner-city areas.
Ray formed a centre in Luton which linked with our burgeoning ‘Leadership Development Group’, working among young black leaders at our base in Moggerhanger Park, Bedford. He also worked with us on the slave ship ‘Zong Project’ in London on the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade in 2007, when we had hoped to use the ship as a permanent positive memorial and training base for young black leaders.
He also worked with us on the slave ship ‘Zong Project’ in London on the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade in 2007
Ray founded the ‘Eastside Young Leaders Academy’ (EYLA) based at Forest Gate, Newham in the East End of London. Through his training programs, he succeeded in enabling hundreds of young black people to attend elite schools in Britain in an attempt to address racial inequality. The work of the charity is said to have inspired the creator of BBC3 series Boarders, a comedy drama about five black students who win scholarships to an elite private school.
Referring to his work at EYLA in the tribute posted by that organisation, Patrick Derham, former headmaster of Rugby and Westminster schools, said, “Meeting Ray changed my life. He was a visionary who helped so many young people believe in themselves and to be agents of change in their communities and beyond. His legacy will live on”.
Deputy Mayor
For some time Ray was deputy to then-London mayor Boris Johnson, in which role he was in charge of leading the capital’s policy on youth crime. In 2010 it was announced that he would help to lead Johnson’s drive to recruit 1,000 people to inspire troubled and often violent youngsters. He was made a CBE in 2023 after being nominated by Johnson in his resignation honours.
He was made a CBE in 2023 after being nominated by Johnson in his resignation honours.
Ray’s death at the height of his ministry leaves a huge gap in the provision of facilities specifically designed for overcoming the grave disadvantages that young black people suffer in this country.
He will be sorely missed and I want to pay my personal tribute to him and to the great value that I placed upon his friendship. I will certainly miss his infectious laughter and his creative energy, always self-denying and focused upon the well-being of others.
Ray’s memorial service, which was held last week, hit the newspapers and was attended by many national leaders.