Did you know that the writer C.S Lewis buried in the pretty graveyard of a church in Headington Quarry, near Oxford?
C.S Lewis and the City of Oxford
There is a strong connection between CS Lewis, writer of the Chronicles of Narnia, and the city of Oxford. He lived in the city and in the streets of Oxford found inspiration for the worlds he created.
The city that welcomed and inspired him also became his final stop. C.S Lewis is laid to rest at the Holy Trinity Church in the Oxford suburb of Headington.
The church and graveyard are open to the public, so it’s possible to make a visit and pay your respects.
Who was C.S Lewis?
Clive Staples Lewis was born in 1898 in Belfast. He enjoyed a comfortable upbringing and grew up in a family who valued education; his father Albert was a solicitor and his mother Florence gained a degree from the University of Ireland at a time when this was not the norm for women.
After being educated at boarding schools in England, Lewis gained a place at Oxford to study classics at University College. However his plans to study were interrupted by WW1, which saw C.S Lewis serving in France with the Somerset Light Infantry.
Post war, Lewis created a name for himself in academic and writing circles. He held academic positions at both Oxford and Cambridge as well as writing over 30 books.
Most people will know the name C.S Lewis from the classic novels that make up The Chronicles of Narnia.
The seven book series has sold millions of copies, been adapted for stage and screen and continues to enchant and inspire readers and creatives everywhere: even this National Trust house in Hampshire couldn’t resist a little Narnia magic!
The Grave of C.S Lewis.
You’ll find the grave of C.S Lewis in the churchyard of The Holy Trinity Church in the Oxford suburb of Headington Quarry. I’ve included directions to the church below.
C.S Lewis began attending this church in the 1930’s and remained actively involved until his death in 1963.
It’s a surprisingly modest grave for for such a celebrated man. So much so, it could easily be missed although there is a sign to help you find it.
The inscription threw up a couple of new-to-me facts. One: the ‘C’ stands for Clive. For some reason I always presumed it was Charles…Charles just seemed like a writerly name.
Two: Despite seeming to be the quintessential English gent, as mentioned, above C.S Lewis was actually born in Belfast.
The Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry, Oxford.
The church itself is modest, but lovely. and very welcoming to visitors.
Shelves of well -loved children’s books suggest that this truly is a family friendly place to worship. And, yes, there were lots of copies of the Narnia books!
It’s also keeper of a beautiful tribute to C.S Lewis and the worlds he imagined: the Narnia window.
C.S Lewis & The Narnia Window
On the left side of the Holy Trinity Church, there is an etched glass window that is a tribute to the beloved beloved children’s books The Chronicles of Narnia and to two local children.
Have you ever wished you could find the mythical wardrobe and go to Narnia? Yeah, me too. The next best thing is falling into the world of this window. Features to look for include Aslan the lion with light flowing from his mane, the castle Cair Paravel and the magic gifts made to the children by Aslan.
You’ll also spot the the four Pevensie children and lots of other creatures that feature in the stories created by C.S Lewis.
The window was created in 1991 when George and Kathleen Howe donated a sum of money to the church with the request that some of it be used to create a window memorial to their children, William George Howe (1938-1954) and Gillian Margaret Howe (1945-1947).
There is a dedication to the children beneath the window.
The location of the window is no accident, it was chosen for two reasons. Firstly, it’s the closest window to the pew that C.S Lewis liked to use. Secondly, it’s an accessible window. Anyone, even a small child, can come in to the church and get close enough to enjoy it.
Where is the Grave of C.S Lewis?
The Holy Trinity Headington Quarry is found in the suburb of Headington Quarry ( for satnav use postcode OX3 8NX, Quarry Road) which itself has a lovely village feel. You approach the church on foot via a leafy lane, leaving the noise and bustle of daily modern life behind.
If you like this you might also enjoy Linen Hall Library: The Oldest Library in Belfast and The Victorian Cemetery, Highclere
Helen x
Brilliant. Who needs a guide when you can make all the discoveries yourselves? And real discoveries too, that hadn’t been previously pointed out. Well done on an enterprising, if wet weekend.
Thank you, it wasn’t a bad one. Lots of laughs, even the teenagers took it all in good spirit. Always another day!
Fascinating post. Had no idea either that he was a Clive or that he was Irish. Love all of the references to his work around Oxford too, that sort of thing is so interesting and gives the city another dimension.
I can’t wait to get back to Oxford to delve a bit more into it. Either on a better-weather day, or a better dressed-for-the-weather sort of day!
I had assumed he was a Charles too! You certainly made the best of the torrential rain and I loved your burger bar in the car park experience. That’s what we all should do, just carry on regardless and adjust to the circumstances. Hope you have a good week. Marion
Absolutely! Things are different now and I can’t see any gain in being glum about it. Hope you have a good week also.
Great post!
A day of infinite variety! I first came across Narnia aged 7 when my teacher read it to us, a bit at the end of each day. I loved it and eventually owned my own boxed set of the books. It’s still on my shelves now, though a bit worse for wear and I suspect the yellow, brittle pages would spring out from the spines if I tried to open them.
By coincidence I was finishing off my Narnia in Belfast when I read your Post – how’s that for serendipity? I’ve put a link in mine to yours so hopefully, a few more might wander over to yours and read about C S Lewis. Mine is at https://travels-with-my-camera.blog/2020/07/30/narnia-in-belfast/ should you wish to take a look. Now I have to figure out what to do about the Wikkiwands image of Lewis which is just too big for a header image.
That’s already great day out better than being bored at home on a rainy day? 🙂
Absolutely! No such thing as the wrong weather and all of that!
Definitely better to be out and about , than at home being glum about the rain!
Can’t beat a healthy dose of positivity, Helen. And the etched glass window looks beautiful. 🙂 🙂
Loved your post and thanks for ‘Clive’ , filed it away already . My favourite though was the shark picture. What in the world was that? A sculpture , a real thing , Sharknado perhaps?
I’ve no idea, just something the previous owner of the house fancied I think. It’s definitely different! 😂
I really enjoy your writing and narration Helen and a part of me feels like I was there with you in Oxford. Clive S. Lewis? Quite the writer name indeed and I wonder what the S stands for. It could be another surprise don’t you think. The church did the right thing!
Thank you so much, I think the S is for Staples…if I remember rightly! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, always appreciated!
You’re welcome.
love Narnia books ! I’ve visited Oxford a long time ago, it was Valentine’s Day and it snowed previously, such a beautiful city