Why Cherwell?

Bodleian Library - Oxford University

Have you ever been to a place that feels magical and you just wanted to sit and soak it all in? That’s exactly how I felt when I had the occasion to visit Oxford and specifically tour the sites around town that were special to author C.S. Lewis.

Ah – Oxford. Frankly, I think I have kind of a “thing” for Gothic architecture and centuries-old, musty-smelling buildings. That’s a big part of what drew me to Princeton University from the beautiful beaches of southern California.  In California, a building is old if it has “Established 1974″ on the cornerstone. If a strip mall there hasn’t been remodeled in five years, it’s likely not doing very good business. Growing up in California, in the midst of new and cutting-edge trends and architecture, what bubbled up inside me was a hunger for history.

So, they say, “if you like the architecture of Princeton, you’ll love Oxford!” How right they were.  Where Princeton is more than 200 years old, much of Oxford is six, seven centuries years old.  Buildings there were nice and musty alright. I loved it.

My favorite part of the trip was the “Christian History” tour of Oxford which led me to chapels, pubs, colleges, monuments, and walkways where famous Christians made their mark in Oxford.  There have been many over the years, and even today there is a strong group that is forging its way, both at Wycliffe Hall and the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, among other places. My favorite old Oxfordians are Thomas Cranmer, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien. Archbishop Cranmer was a martyr on behalf of the English Reformation and the author of the Book of Common Prayer; C.S. Lewis is most famous for his defense of the Christian faith, Mere Christianity, and the magical Chronicles of Narnia; and Tolkien is the author of the epic tale, The Lord of the Rings.  My favorite contemporary Oxfordians are apologists Alister McGrath, Ravi Zacharias, Krish Kandiah, and Amy Orr-Ewing among many others. Keep an eye on these movers and shakers in the world of Christian apologetics.

Kristin in front of Magdalen College

But back to Cherwell. So, the Christian History tour came to Magdalen College where C.S. Lewis had his offices as a tutor in English Langague and Literature. It was in that very office where C.S. Lewis, the atheist, first knelt down to pray to God.  Alongside Magdalen College runs the River Cherwell and Addison’s Walk where C.S. Lewis and his friends J.R. Tolkien and Hugu Dyson took some late night walks into the wee hours of the morning to discuss the story of Jesus Christ - the perfect, true myth in which God, in love, sacrificed himself on behalf of all mankind. When the tour got to that quiet, shady walkway along the river, I told the rest of my friends to go on. I was going to stay here and take it all in. 

I strolled along Addison’s Walk for awhile and found a bench to plop down on and read Lewis’ Prince Caspian. It was a sunny, warm day in July. I kicked off my shoes, and got comfy.  There was just something special about being right where Lewis walked, worked, laughed, and most importantly, wrestled with God as He pursued his heart. 

Lewis has always felt like a spiritual uncle to me. I know there are probably millions of people alive today who could say the same thing. To be in his old stomping grounds was invigorating and comforting.  It is in that same spirit that I write today and in the days to come here on this blog. 

Magdalen College gate to Addison's Walk and the River Cherwell

I hope that when reading posts on “Cherwell Conversations” you feel like you’re going on a walk with a friend along a slow-moving river on a lovely fall evening. (It’s 2:00 am right now as I write this).  Late night conversations can be really good. The obligations of the day are done – you can relax and think “outside the box” about life.

This blog will likely be a big tent that covers a lot of topics, from what I think about the latest CNN newsfeed, to things I’m learning, and hopefully some interviews with folks that I’d like you to meet.  Please suggest topic ideas and your thoughts on this.  Good night!

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