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Ernest Walton-Lewsey, 1914-2007

Obituary

It is not given to many men to have two spheres of missionary service during their lifetime, but it was given to Ernest Walton-Lewsey.

Born on January 27 1914 in NW London, he was an only child and remained all his life a ‘lone ranger’. He never married. He did not come from a Christian home, but came under the influence of a godly grandmother. ‘I set out to know for myself the God she so deeply loved’, he wrote. At 12 years old he gave his life to Christ at a meeting at Spurgeon’s Tabernacle, saying, ‘I will serve you, Lord, never wanting anything for myself’.

London Embankment Mission

Ernest became a student at London University, studying physics and finding fellowship in the CU. Leaving college one evening he walked down Chancery Lane and saw an elderly woman covered in rags in a doorway, cold and hungry. He felt very moved. He bought tea and buns and chatted to her. Afterwards he saw her frequently and it brought him a great sense of fulfilment. In October 1936 he saw a figure sprawling at the bottom of some steps along the Victoria Embankment. Ernest told him about Christ and from that time knew that God was calling him to work full time on the Embankment.

With the help of CU friends, he got a trestle table, mugs and an urn to serve tea and sandwiches. Thus began the London Embankment Mission. From early days there were wonderful stories of lives changed by God’s grace. Ernest became known as ‘the archbishop of the gutter’. During the blitz he worked in the underground shelters, bringing gospel comfort to hundreds of people.

After recovering from a car accident, he was given a holiday in France. While alone in bed, he experienced an anointing of the Holy Spirit. He wrote, ‘I could now praise God abundantly in English and that changed into another language which I had never learnt — it lasted three hours.’ The reaction of the Christian public in Britain to this was mixed, but Ernest said, ‘I had a new release in prayer — the Lord was so near.’ The London Embankment Mission moved to a derelict building near the Old Vic. It was renovated, providing a chapel, a dining hall for 100, and temporary dormitory accommodation. This has now been taken over by the London City Mission.

Canary Islands

When Ernest retired from the LEM he took a short holiday in the Canary Islands, and saw the desperate spiritual need of the people. He travelled through the little villages sharing Christ and his power. Ernest retired (for a second time) and moved to Hove. In his last years he was cared for in the Pilgrim Home in Brighton, where he died peacefully aged 93 on June 7.

Alan Vogt