Where C. S. Lewis Sat

Some time ago on this blog I posted a photo of a couple sitting in a pew at Holy Trinity Headington Quarry, C. S. Lewis's parish church for over thirty years. I pointed out that the couple thought they were sitting in Lewis's pew when they really weren't. Quite a bit of discussion ensued as to whether this was the correct pew or not.

Today I just came across this photo in a box of old photos. This shows Douglas Gresham sitting in the place where Jack sat when Doug attended worship services with him in Headington Quarry. As you will notice, Jack's spot was directly behind a pillar. Jack sat in this location so that the priest could not see Jack's face while the priest was preaching from the pulpit. Jack did not want to display his distaste for some of the vicar's preaching!

Notably, Doug is sitting in the pew behind the one marked in the church as the Lewis brothers' pew. Of course, where C. S. Lewis sat is no more important than where George Washington slept. But the fact that Jack sat behind the pillar is one more indication to me of his characteristic humility.

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C. S. Lewis on Homosexuality

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Fact, Faith, Feeling

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When I solicited questions to be addressed in this series, a member of the congregation wrote this to me: “Animals are mentioned in the Bible as beasts of burden and sacrificial animals. Is there any mention of treating animals with kindness?” The short answer to that question is: yes. However, it is important to note that what the Bible says about caring for animals comes in the midst of a great narrative. It is a narrative of Creation, Fall, and Redemption. Let’s look at these three great acts in the narrative play of world history one by one. First, let’s look at creation. Creation At the very beginning of the Bible, in the book of Genesis, chapter 1, verses 26 through 28, we read this: Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the

A Prayer at Ground Zero

Christmas Day Thought from Henri Nouwen

" I keep thinking about the Christmas scene that Anthony arranged under the altar. This probably is the most meaningful "crib" I have ever seen. Three small woodcarved figures made in India: a poor woman, a poor man, and a small child between them. The carving is simple, nearly primitive. No eyes, no ears, no mouths, just the contours of the faces. The figures are smaller than a human hand - nearly too small to attract attention at all. "But then - a beam of light shines on the three figures and projects large shadows on the wall of the sanctuary. That says it all. The light thrown on the smallness of Mary, Joseph, and the Child projects them as large, hopeful shadows against the walls of our life and our world. "While looking at the intimate scene we already see the first outlines of the majesty and glory they represent. While witnessing the most human of human events, I see the majesty of God appearing on the horizon of my existence. While

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Will Vaus

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