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English professor Dr. Diana Glyer, second from right, gathers in London with other scholars to celebrate the life and works of C.S. Lewis.
From left to right: Dr. Don King (Montreat College); Andrew Lazo; Dr. Diana Glyer (APU); Dr. Michael Ward (Oxford University).
Courtesy: Roger White

Two APU professors travelled to London in late November to attend a gathering commemorating the 50th anniversary of C.S. Lewis’ death, by invitation of the C.S. Lewis Foundation. They also joined other guests and scholars at The Kilns, Lewis’ home.

The foundation invited Dr. Diana Glyer, an English professor, who in turn invited Dr. Roger White, a graduate theology professor and curator in the University Libraries’ Special Collections and Rare Books.

White said the approximately 40 to 50 guests included the bishop of Oxford, some of Lewis’ old neighbors, board members of the C.S. Lewis Foundation, local Lewis scholars, Lewis’ stepson Douglas Gresham and Michael Ward, the author of “Planet Narnia.”

The commemoration was held Nov. 21–22 at the Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey, London. A stone with Lewis’ name on it was placed next to other famous and honored poets, writers and musicians such as Shakespeare, Austen, Chaucer and Dickens.

“Fifty years after the death of C.S. Lewis, we assemble to give thanks for his life and work. We celebrate his work as a scholar, as one of the most significant Christian apologists of the twentieth century, and as the author of stories that have inspired the imagination and faith of countless readers and film-goers,” said Dr. John Hall, dean of Westminster, during the service Friday, Nov. 22.

On the following Sunday, scholars visited The Kilns, the former home of Lewis, now owned by the C.S. Lewis Foundation. The home has been preserved as a study and seminar center.

“I am looking forward to this because it is an opportune time of a meeting and greeting of scholars whose work we [the scholars] have all read, even to just be a fly on the wall and watch the conversations that will take place,” White said before he left for London.

Glyer has published works on C.S. Lewis as well as The Inklings and said that the Poet’s Corner is “like the Hall of Fame” for writers.

“It is really extraordinary that C. S. Lewis [was] honored in this way. I am very glad to be able to participate in these important events,” said Glyer.

White called Glyer “the world’s leading expert” on The Inklings. They attended several events that weekend and also visited the university’s students who are currently studying in London through the Oxford semester.