Oxford: C S Lewis’s Grave

Recently, I found myself with time on my hands in Headington, Oxford as I waited to collect my parents from a hospital appointment. In an effort to distract myself, I decided to find Holy Trinity Church and the grave of C S Lewis.

Parking anywhere in, or near, Oxford is a nightmare (hospitals included!) and it took me a while to find a roadside spot which was not designated residents only. I managed to park by the Margaret Road Recreation Ground which allowed two hours parking and is just off Quarry Road. Once back on Quarry Road, I took the dark pathway which leads to Holy Trinity! Having reached the churchyard, it is easy to follow the path with a sign clearly showing the way to the grave of C S Lewis. However, unless you know what you are looking for, the grave itself can be tricky to find.

There are no statues of Aslan, no large notices, in fact, no reference at all to the fact that Clive Staples Lewis was the author of the Chronicles of Narnia. The grave is a simple white slab which remembers both him and his brother, Major Warren ‘Warnie’ Lewis who is buried with him. A quote on the grave reads, ‘Men must endure their going hence’, which apparently was the Shakespeare quotation on their father’s calendar the day their mother died. What does stand out as unusual are the little notes left by admirers, generally thanking C S Lewis for his wonderful stories. My visit was so peaceful. I was the only person in the graveyard and there was a wonderful feeling of calm- a hidden haven in a very busy part of town!

Unfortunately for me, the renovation work being done to the church meant that the ‘Narnia Window’ had been boarded up to keep it safe so the best I could do was take a picture of the board outside! The workmen were really friendly though- and tried very hard to find me a window they thought might be the one I was looking for. Apparently, I was not the first person who had asked about it that day and they were reluctant to disappoint me! So, I will visit again when the work is done- and perhaps add my own tribute to his grave.

Holy Trinity Church

46 Quarry Rd,

Headington,

Oxford OX3 8NU