the son of stephen lewis, vicar of weobly and rector of holgate, shropshire, he was born at kington, herefordshire, on 14 march 1689. he was educated at hereford free school, under a mr. traherne. he was admitted a bible clerk at corpus christi college, oxford, where he matriculated 3 july 1704, and graduated b.a. in 1711. he does not appear to have proceeded m.a., but was ordained priest in 1713 at worcester.