We got a bit of a late start because the hotel porters didn’t pick up and of our bags outside our rooms as scheduled. We almost took them down with us when we went to breakfast since they were still sitting there, but we were afraid that would confuse the porters if they came for the bags.
Bill Henry led our devotions featuring C.S. Lewis, since we are visiting Lewis’ church, the Holy Trinity Church, Headigton Quarry this morning.
Our first stop of the day was at that church. The church has a stained glass window and an etched window with symbols from Lewis’ stories, especially from the Tales of Narnia. The placard on the bench beside that window, states that this bench was where C.S. Lewis sat for services. Some of us sat in his seat just for fun. The choir was practicing “Because He Lives” while we visited the church, as we had been given permission to do. As we went to join our bus-mates, we noticed 3 couples from our group sitting in the back two pews of the church. Patrick had given them permission to attend part of the service. It was so wonderful to worship with this church group in England. The service was rather formal, but very meaningful. The church was over half full. They had a baptism for twins, Aryana and Oren van Zwieten Desai. The baptism itself took place by a big font at the back of the church. It was a very meaningful service and church members appeared to be a real fellowship of ‘believers. I cried when we sang together, Because He Lives — one of my favorites.
The rest of the group visited C.S. Lewis’ home, The Kilns, whose restoration was completed in 2001. Lewis has written, “I never hoped for the like.” Since 2002, the Kilns was dedicated to serve as a focal point of Christian hospitality, study, reflection, and learned conversation between Christian scholars, artists, and laity from the world over.
The tour paid for our lunch at The Eagle and the Child Pub; the name supposedly refers to a story of a noble-born baby having been found in an eagle’s nest. This pub became one of the gathering spots for C.S. Lewis and his literary-minded friends, including J. R. Toliken. The pub was hot and crowded and our meal took a very long time to be served because they were so busy. I had fish and sweet potato chips with dessert of ice cream and delightful round chocolate candies stuffed with creamed candy – called profitaroles – delightful and popular in Britain.
From there Patrick led us on a walking tour of Oxford College, which is a collection of 30 colleges, all seeming to be high level and proud. Patrick pointed to the one that was his – it sounded like Balliol. A stone bridge connects two of the colleges. Patrick pointed out Bodleian Library, a research library that claims to have access to every book that’s been published. Many buildings are built using a golden rock from a nearby quarry.
Driving through beautiful small villages, farmland, and rolling brooks and bridges, we stopped briefly at Anne Hathaway’s cottage.
We then continued to Shakespeare’s home in the picturesque village of Stratford-upon-Avon. This former farmhouse has been developed into a pleasant tourist feature which includes his original house and many exhibits of great interest. A costumed male and female were acting out scenes from Shakespeare’s plays; visitors could request specific plays. Their acting was excellent. I asked them if they had any vignettes where both of them interacted together. They did a short piece and included Verle and me in it — it was very amusing!
To be or not to be — that is the question.
The bus took us to our lodging close by in Nottingham: Crowne Plaza Heythrop Park – Oxford, Chipping Norton, UK 011-44 1608 673 333 www.ihg.com