Holy Trinity Church Headington Quarry
46 Quarry Road, Headington, Oxford, OX3 8NU, GB
Rating: 4.7 ★ (65 ratings)
Details
A simple headstone in the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church in Headington Quarry marks the final resting place of C.S. Lewis and his brother, Warren. "Men must endure their going hence," reads the epitaph, a poignant Shakespearean quote chosen by Warren. For over thirty years, the author of "The Chronicles of Narnia" worshipped within this active Anglican parish church, often sitting in the same pew in the north aisle alongside his brother. Visitors are welcome to explore the church and churchyard, which remain open during daylight hours, and can find information leaflets just inside. Not far from the brothers' pew, a Narnia-themed window, etched by Sally Scott and installed in 1991, beautifully depicts scenes and characters from Lewis's beloved tales, a bequest in memory of two children, William and Gillian Howe.
Designed by the notable architect George Gilbert Scott and consecrated in 1849, Holy Trinity Church was built using locally quarried stone to serve the spiritual needs of the quarry workers. Its "Decorated Gothic" style aimed to evoke a late medieval church. Inside, above the altar, the "Christ in Glory" stained glass window, a 1951 creation by Sir J. Ninian Comper, stands as a memorial to parishioners who died in World War II. The church continues to be a vibrant part of the Headington Quarry community, a place of worship and quiet reflection that also welcomes those drawn by its rich literary and architectural heritage. Guided tours focusing on C.S. Lewis can sometimes be arranged, offering a deeper insight into his connection with this charming parish church.
Location
Opening Hours
Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Contact
+44 1865 762931
Comments
My maternal grandparents are buried here so I visit to keep their grave free from weeds and organic debris.
I thought taking on this task would be a chore but I enjoy thinking about them, even though I didn’t know them and only saw my grandmother on her deathbed. It also tends to provoke thoughts about my parents and their lives in rural Oxford. The city must have been full of fields when they were teenagers.
I also enjoy the graveyard’s wonderful trees and greenery and, beyond the cemetery’s stone wall boundary, the gentle slopes and treeline of Stansfeld Park.
CS Lewis is buried in this graveyard but as I’ve never read anything he’s written I have nothing to say about him - other than that J R Tolkien’s grave is in another church on the other side of the city. I thought they knew each other, lived closely to each other, and were friends?