May 11, 1926 - J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis Meet

The Eagle and Child, Oxford, England. Photo by David Hawgood via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).

On May 11, 1926, two of the most influential Christian writers of the 20th century, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, met at The Eagle and Child Pub, also known as The Bird and Baby. This meeting led to a regular informal gathering of other literary giants who deemed themselves “The Inkling,” many of whom taught at Oxford University. Other notable names from the group are Charles Williams and Owen Barefield. The writers met to share and critique their work- each of them including countless Christian themes in their writings. They read drafts and provided feedback, refining some of the most famous works in modern history. Notable works produced by these authors include The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis and The Lord of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, both of which include deep Christian symbolism and themes. Much of The Inklings’ writings explored themes like sacrifice, good vs. evil, redemption, and divine providence. Uniquely, however, Lewis, formerly atheist, attributed Tolkien with aiding his conversion to Christianity in 1931. The group was primarily active in the 1930s and 1940s.

The Inklings are a beautiful demonstration of how Christian community can sharpen ideas and strengthen faith. Through their friendship the Inklings experienced intellectual and spiritual accountability, both of which are vitally important to the Christian walk. Furthermore, their work exhibits the power of storytelling as a way to communicate biblical truth. Today, their writings continue to influence modern Christians by presenting truth through imagination and creativity. Their legacy remains an example to believers, and all people, that a person’s legacy can live long after their passing; therefore, it is important that people do not underestimate the extent to which God can use obedience for the sake of his kingdom.