Oxford Reflections Part 3

Here is my third and final round-up of favorite photos from the Oxford Creative Writing Master Class. They’re quite a hodge-podge, as they represent all the various things I saw that didn’t fit into part 1 and 2!

Our guest cottages were at Banbury Hill Farm, planted in the Cotswold countryside near Charlbury (if you zoom in on the third and fourth photos, you can see village buildings). The farm was quite a spread, with a bed-and-breakfast, holiday cottages, camping sites, and everything else that would make visitors comfortable. And it was a working farm: walk several hundred yards and you'd find sheep, chickens, rabbits, and practically every other kind of farm animal you can imagine. If you're ever in the vicinity, I highly recommend staying here. The second photo is our guesthouse; the door to the suite (named Evenlode) where I stayed is in the middle.

The many moods of an English wood. As I said, Banbury Hill Farm had lots of amenities . . . my favorite being the woods and walking trails behind the place, quite possibly my favorite location on the whole trip. I walked these trails a couple of cold mornings, enjoying time to pray in the silence broken only by birds. 

Amanda Cannon Photography

These are views of Elstow Abbey, where John Bunyan was christened and where he attended as a child and young man, even ringing the bells. He was born not far from here in a rural cottage in 1628. We saw some things that probably inspired his book Pilgrim's Progress, including this wicket gate in the wall of the church. The stained-glass window is a Victorian depiction of important scenes from the book. The church, which used to be a much more extensive convent, was built about 1078 by William the Conqueror's niece Judith. Learning about Bunyan's humble origins and difficult life inspired us . . . if someone with limited education could write a book (Pilgrim's Progress) in a cold, dark, seventeenth-century prison, then how can we be discouraged at the small obstacles we face as writers today? God is with us as He was with John Bunyan.

Amanda Cannon Photography

The Round Church (Church of the Holy Sepulchre) is one of many intriguing buildings we saw in Cambridge, another university town.

On our last full day, we went to Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace. The brown house is believed to be the actual place where he was born in 1564! Stratford still contains a lot of architecture from the era. That evening we saw Julius Caesar at the Royal Shakespeare Company—an amazing performance. The actors and actresses transported us to Ancient Rome (albeit a Shakespearean version) with only their skill and a few well-selected sets and props. 

I hope you enjoyed this summary of my week in England! Anybody want to go back with me? (I really do hope to return one day, if the Lord wills it!) Have you ever wanted to go to England? What would you most like to see?

Oxford Reflections Part 2

Since one post could not contain all I wanted to share of my pictures from England and the Oxford Creative Writing Master Class, I’m back with part two. Here are a slew of photos celebrating C. S. Lewis, one of the writers we discussed the most. 

The Kilns, Lewis's house in Headington Quarry, a residential district between Headington and Risinghurt and several miles from Oxford. This house was built in 1922, and Lewis and his brother, Warnie, lived there from 1930 until their deaths. It's a surprisingly ordinary house, but very comfortable and welcoming. You can see it on a guided tour and hear funny, heart-warming stories about the Lewises and the various people who lived there with them, including Joy, C. S. Lewis's wife, to whom he was only married for four years. 

Amanda Cannon Photography

Here's our group in front of a different angle of the Kilns. Visiting Lewis's home made him all the more real and endearing to me (he was such a scholarly bachelor, immune to materialism, and his home reflected that fact!). It was one of the highlights of my trip.

This is a view of Shelley's Pond, a short distance along a wooded path from the Kilns. Lewis enjoyed swimming here.

Amanda Cannon Photography

This is a little townhouse in Oxford where C. S. Lewis lived for a short time as a young man. 

These photos are in St. Mary's Passage, an alley in Oxford between the Radcliffe Camera and High Street, wending alongside St. Mary's University Church. C. S. Lewis walked this passage many times. Although he may or may not have been directly inspired by the leonine carving on the door (behind Douglas Bond), the carved fauns, or the lamppost in the passage, it's neat these three objects that evoke Narnia are all in one small space in Oxford. 

These are all photos of Magdalen College (pronounced maudlin), where C. S. Lewis taught. His specific rooms are not open to the public.

And here are ten photos (I couldn't help myself) of one of the prettiest places I've ever been: Addison's Walk, a circular path that loops around a meadow on the grounds of Magdalen College by the River Cherwell. Lewis loved to walk here. A conversation with Tolkien on this path in 1931 was instrumental in Lewis finally becoming a Christian.

Not far from the Kilns is Holy Trinity Church, where Lewis worshiped and where he and his brother are buried.

And here is Lewis's grave:

Lewis liked cats; I couldn't believe a friendly neighborhood cat came around to greet us while we were there. It was perfect.


I can't say I'm done with photos yet . . . my apologies! Maybe one more post will be enough to wrap up the trip; if not, hopefully you won't mind even more photos of England.

Oxford Reflections

England in early April was more beautiful than I expected. Being from a southern clime, I thought that northern countries would still be gray so nigh to winter. But England was sunny, green, and in full bloom when I arrived. White blossoming trees, resembling suspended snow, mixed with their cousins’ young, emerald leaves in the fields of the middle counties, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Pink magnolias graced cultivated homes and college gardens. Flowers of every color were out, most noticeably white and yellow daffodils, red and pink tulips, and indigo hyacinths and muscari.

I am a plant person (though, to my sorrow, my thumbs are brown), so these beauties made me ecstatic. England’s natural loveliness praises God for His artistry. It also provided a paradisiacal backdrop to our class and tour. The weather cooperated, too, and held off the usual rain, except during our afternoon in Cambridge, Oxford’s rival university town—as an Oxford local quipped (I paraphrase), “Really? It didn’t rain here in Oxford. Well, that’s Cambridge for you.”

This class had me excited for months in advance, and I knew it would be marvelous, but I didn’t expect how deeply the actual week would thrill and satisfy me. Our leader and teacher, Douglas Bond, is extremely knowledgeable about the Bible, history, literature, and the writing craft, and very helpful and encouraging to budding writers. He gave us more than just writing tips—he showed us how to use all of life, including history, the arts, food, people, great literature, and the Bible as contributors to our writing. We studied gifted men and women who used their words in noble ways, men and women who became real to us as we saw their homes and churches and paths, and who inspired us as Mr. Bond read us their work. We took home a hefty reading list and a burning desire to write for God’s glory as these people did.

We also took home new friendships, although these have to be carried on long-distance. My classmates are wonderful people; we had such an amazing time together! We could share anything and everything about our stories at anytime, and whenever we had something to say, we could always be sure of a sympathetic and interested listener. With designated hours of reading aloud and critiquing in the cozy sitting room of the house we stayed in, we garnered fans and allies. All of us possess deep-seated love for God and writing, firm foundations for relationships.

As Christian writers, we learned we have an advantage—we have the whole picture of truth, which inspires and informs our writing. But, as C. S. Lewis put it, “Don’t write what people want, don’t write what you think they need; write what you need.”

I bet you’re ready for some pictures now!

Image: Amanda Cannon Photography

Our group plus two friends (and a photo-bomber in the doorway) and minus our wonderful photographer, in front of the Eagle and Child pub, famous for being a meeting place for the Inklings, C. S. Lewis's and J. R. R. Tolkien's “writing club." We ate there twice.

One of my picturesque meals at the Eagle and Child: steak and ale pie. 

The pub celebrates its connection with the iconic Oxford authors.

Just one of many atmospheric cubbies in the pub, the Rabbit Room was a frequent spot for the Inklings to cozy up and discuss writing and literature.

Image: Amanda Cannon Photography

Our class spent time in countless remarkable places like this one, the eating hall in Balliol College, Oxford. This moment was our first writing tutorial; minutes later we penned our impressions of the hall, reflecting on the famous men who ate there—most notably John Wycliffe in the 14th century, an Oxford student and later a master.

Amanda Cannon Photography

I did a lot of this during the week—scribbling away in the notebook that companioned me everywhere! Here, we're in the sunny garden of Balliol College.

All these photos are in Balliol College, where gorgeousness abounds. We visited several different colleges, but I think this one had the best landscaping.

Christ Church Cathedral, the cathedral of the diocese of Oxford, where we heard a heavenly evensong.

Oxford rooftops from St. Michael's Tower. St. Michael at the North Gate church is the oldest building in Oxford, from 1000-1050. Unfortunately I didn't get a good picture of the building itself. (Rueful head shake.) 

The Radcliffe Camera, a reading room for Oxford's Bodleian Library, and a favorite study location for students.

These last four photos are of Merton College, where J. R. R. Tolkien taught English language and literature. Merton is one of the three oldest colleges in the University of Oxford, established during the 13th century . . . can you image teaching or even learning in an institution that's almost one thousand years old? That intricate sculpture (top picture) that looks like it came from Narnia or Middle Earth is above Merton's gatehouse.

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This post is growing longer and longer, but I still have so many more pictures to share! Stay tuned for another post featuring C. S. Lewis haunts.