Magical Narnia comes to St Mark’s
As Belfast remembers one if its famous sons on the fiftieth anniversary of his death, St Mark’s Dundela has been celebrating its strong C S Lewis connections.
This week, The Heyn Hall has been transformed into the magical land of Narnia and by the weekend about 500 children (from Strandtown Primary) will have enjoyed ‘The Narnia Schools Experience’ with Revd Adrian Dorrian and Julie Currie.
Entering through the wardrobe, past the fur coats and into a snowy world where it’s ‘Always winter but never Christmas’, the interactive Narnia experience walks the schoolchildren through C S Lewis’ ‘The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe’. They visit Mr and Mrs Beaver’s home, meet Mr Tumnus and Aslan and, passing the stone table, end their journey in Cair Paravel. The children also have a chance to see the model of Narnia made by the Holywood Dolls House and Miniatures Enthusiasts (represented by parishioner Marion Young) and to crown the 90 minutes, everyone gets some juice, a specially made lion–shaped biscuit and as they leave, a piece of Turkish Delight.
‘It has taken a lot of work to put together,’ says Adrian, ‘but we’re specially grateful for the help given by both Ashfield Boys’ and Ashfield Girls’ High Schools. The boys made the stone table and some of the girls have made us a beautiful wall hanging which we get to keep. We’re really enjoying walking the children through the story and in a small way, sharing the Gospel message through it.’
The Narnia Experience is open to the public on Saturday 16 November and we believe that The White Witch will make an appearance!
Earlier, on Sunday evening 10 November, over 200 people gathered in the church to hear the guest speaker and C S Lewis biographer, Professor Alister McGrath. Professor McGrath, also from Belfast, is an eminent theologian, intellectual historian, priest and Christian apologist. He spoke for about half and hour on the Irish character of C S Lewis, and made a point of saying that we should claim Lewis as an Irish writer (since many assume he’s English) especially as he always regarded Belfast as his home.
Professor McGrath also gave two excellent lectures at ‘The Hub’ at Queens University Belfast to which you may listen via their website.
View a gallery here.
Two more events complete the celebrations:
He’s the King, I tell you: CS Lewis Celebration ServiceSunday 24 November at 6.30 pm in St Mark’s Church
On the Feast of Christ the King, a Service with selected readings from the works of CS Lewis, interspersed with hymns and prayers. St Mark’s Choir will sing the specially commissioned piece ‘From Darkness to Light’, a musical setting of words from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Representatives from the local community will take part in this service.
Space, Science and CS LewisMonday 25 November at 8.00 pm in St Mark’s Church
Professor Stephen Williams, Union Theological College Belfast, presents a Lecture on CS Lewis’ Cosmic Trilogy, in which the author forays into science fiction.