Oxford and Lewis: Part 4: Lewis!

 June 10, 2013: So we finally made our way to Oxford University, Christchurch College; the sun was lowering, but not quite dusk. We walked in through the huge, old, wooden doors/gates and the site was breathtaking!

You go through a little portico and then it opens up into a spectacular square, with bright green grass, and a fountain of `Mercury' in the center. The sun was low, so it shown off the white stone, lighting the whole place up like it was noon. In reality, it was 7:00 in the evening.

Inside the square, looking back at the door portico.

We were all a little stunned at the grandeur and beauty of it all. It was quite quiet, and almost felt reverent. Probably because there was so much praying going on....it was the beginning of Exam Week! :-) Students were moving about, wearing black robes, most of them open, worn like cloaks, over their regular clothes. We assumed it was protocol for the exams, but just added another layer of surrealism to us standing there.

Oxford University feels like its own little city. Not that there are shops or anything, because there aren't. But you are completely enclosed by the huge wall surrounding it, and there are ally-ways and hidden, winding paths everywhere. We got directions from the kind, uniformed Door Porter and made our way across the square, to find our lecture hall. 

Joseph, in the Oxford square. Entrance is behind him.

I fell in love with the purple tree.

The C. S. Lewis Lecturer was Dr. Michael Ward. He was President of the C.S. Lewis Society while at Oxford, has a Masters from Cambridge, and a PhD from St. Andrews. I can't even write here about the lecture itself. It was amazing and I couldn't write fast enough! There isn't enough space, and there is so much to say! But suffice it to say, I wept. For real. I did, at the end. Yes, I felt a little bit like an idiot, and hoped I was discreet enough to not have anyone notice, but his concept was such a revelation, and was so moving to me for some reason. I am so excited to read "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" series again now! Unfortunately, I didn't escape detection. And the worst person was the one who noticed. It was the lecturer! I went up to thank him, and as I shook his hand, he leaned in and whispered, I saw you weep. I was so embarrassed, until he followed it with (still holding my hand, and looking me straight in the eye) "I have wept over this too. Many times." I answered him with a grateful smile and said, "Well, Truth is Truth, wherever you find it." He smiled acknowledgingly, and then signed my notes. When I get home, I have to find his books: "Space or Heaven?: C.S. Lewis, Narnia and the Planets," "Planet Narnia", or "The Narnia Code." Fascinating.

 

As if I wasn't overwhelmed enough, we then went out into the courtyard for a little reception of Sparkling Elderflower water and Shortbread! I was drinking flower water at Oxford, and listening to the foremost world expert on CS Lewis! I could just go home now.

 

As we made our way back out, it was even more quiet than before. Lights were coming on, and the place was so empty. Windows of student rooms glowed, and the cut class refracted the light here and there. It was so beautiful, I didn't want to leave.

Entrance to another secret someplace.

Joseph in one of the outdoor halls on our way back to the square.

The clock tower above the entrance at night.

Heading back to the entrance.

The empty square at dusk.

 When we got to the door, a few students were there, who had attended the lecture as well. We were locked in! Love it! We waited for the nice porter (I don't know what else to call him, maybe the Gatekeeper?) who came and unlocked and un-barred the heavy doors. As we stepped out, it almost felt like we were walking out of the wardrobe of magic, back into reality, and I instantly missed the place.

The ceiling of the portico at the entrance.

Closer view. I couldn't tell what the colored things were.

 

 

 

 

They were shield crests! So cool!

A perfect Day.