Oxford - C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien

We began this morning in the most beautiful way...visiting the grave of C.S. Lewis, and his brother Warnie, and then walking in the C.S. Lewis reserve. This used to be a part of the land belonging to The Kilns (his home). I can see why Lewis loved this place so much.

C.S. Lewis's gravestone

This is where Lewis sat in church, no doubt where the first ideas of
The Screwtape Letter's sprung to his mind.

What Lewis saw...

Christian at the old stone bench in the C.S. Lewis Nature Reserve.

We had the most delightful hour rambling, and walking is so important for the imagination, and important in our ability to think through what's going on in our life. It was during a walk down Addison's Lane, discussing christian matters with Tolkien, that C.S. Lewis started to understand the Christian faith in a different light.

Cold, but the sun came out.

This is the sun at 10:30am! It's very low compared to Australia.

This was one of my favourite things.

I imagine C.S. Lewis walked like this here.

The memorial for those killed in persecution of the church (both Catholic and reformed)
 in Oxford University Church of St Mary the Virgin. This was an unusual church for its lack of cross. The focus was most definitely Mary.

We met up with Dr John Jarrick, brother to members in our parish, lecturer in Old Testament at Regent's Park and Mansfield colleges, Oxford. This is the Radcliffe Camera (camera is latin for room).

Dr John gave us a tour of Oxford colleges. With him we were able to go
places that ordinary folk are not welcomed.

He took us in to the largest book shop that we have ever seen

It went on and on and ON! (Christian managed not to buy a book!)

Balliol College - the same that Boris Johnson attended

Balliol chapel

This was my view most of the day...but Dr John was a fount of interesting information.

This is the dining room in one of the colleges...they meet together for a formal dinner at least twice a week. This would be a meal where people are expected to dress formally, with their robe.

The spot where the reformers Hugh Latimer (70 years) and Nicholas Ridley (50ish years) were burnt at the stake in 1555 under Queen Mary. It is reported that Hugh Latimer said: "Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle by God's grace in England as shall never be put out". Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Cranmer, was made to watch, in the hope that he would recant the reformer's teaching. He did in fact sign a number of recantations, but finally in March 1556 he was taken to the stake to be burnt also. He was supposed to recant again publicly before he was to be burnt. But now he found courage, and spoke boldly the Word of God. When he was put to the stake, he put his "offending hand" in the fire first - the hand that signed the recantations.

The Magdalen chapel

The stained glass windows here are sepia in colour.

With Dr John leading the way...

We walked through the college

To the other side

Where they have a lovely walk beside a creek

The autumnal colours were so beautiful

The deer came close in the park.

This was such a lovely walk...see the boat in the creek

The Eagle and Child pub where the Inklings used to meet has been closed since 2020...getting refurbishments.

The college where Dr John teaches. We had dinner together, and lots of interesting discussions about the church in England, our church in Australia and history in general. This day ended with our most steps yet!