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The Inklings began meeting in Lewis's rooms around 1933 and continued that Thursday evening tradition until 1950. Tuesday morning gatherings at the Eagle and Child pub (known as the Bird and Baby) continued until Lewis's death. When I visited the pub on a trip to England a few years ago, I could only imagine what lofty and engaging conversations must have taken place there decades before.

Elesha Coffman is associate editor of Christian History.

Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Christian History profiled Lewis for its issue on "The 10 Most Influential Christians of the Twentieth Century."

Earlier Christianity Today articles about C.S. Lewis and the Inklings include:

Walking Where Lewis Walked | My reluctant entry into the world of pilgrimage. By Virginia Stem Owens (Feb. 10, 2000)

Still Surprised by Lewis | Why this nonevangelical Oxford don has become our patron saint. By J.I. Packer (Sept. 7, 1998)

Jack Is Back | The search for the historical Lewis (Feb. 3, 1997)

Books & Culture Corner: Spring in Purgatory | Dante, Botticelli, C. S. Lewis, and a lost masterpiece (Feb. 7, 2000)

What C. S. Lewis wrote about Botticelli (Feb. 7, 2000)

C.S. Lewis on Christmas (Dec. 16, 1983)

Reflections: C.S. Lewis | Writings that explicate the Christian faith and walk (Nov. 16, 1998)

The C.S. Lewis (and the Inklings) site attempts to bring in the lesser-known Inklings whenever possible, but focuses mainly on the apologist.

The Mythopoeic Society offers A Beginner's Bibliography of the Inklings.

Christian History Corner appears every Friday at ChristianityToday.com. Previous Christian History Corners include:

How Not to Read Dante | You probably missed the point of The Divine Comedy in high school. (May 11, 2001)

If My People Will Pray | The U.S. National Day of Prayer Turns 50, but its origins are much older. (May 4, 2001)

Mutiny and Redemption | The rarely told story of new life after the destruction of the H.M.S. Bounty. (Apr. 27, 2001)

Book Notes | New and noteworthy releases on church history that deserve recognition. (Apr. 20, 2001)

A Primer on Paul | The History Channel uses Holy Saturday not to discuss Jesus, but the apostle who spread his message. (Apr. 12, 2001)

Image Is Everything | The Taliban's destruction of Buddhist statues is only the latest controversy over the Second Commandment. (Apr. 6, 2001)

Christian Education for All | The first Sunday schools provide a positive example of government partnerships with faith-based organizations.(Mar. 23, 2001)

The Sport of Saints? | Forget St. Pat's. It's time for March Madness, baby! (And yes, it's Christian.) (Mar. 16, 2001)

Digging in China | Christianity in the world's most populous country may be a lot older than anybody imagined. (Mar. 9, 2001)

Food for the Soul? | Lenten traditions range from fowl-turned-fish to pretzels. (Mar. 2, 2001)

The Radical Kirk | The Church of Scotland has a long history of intense reforms. (Feb. 23, 2001)

Marching to Zion | The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church celebrates its 200th anniversary today. (Feb. 16, 2001)

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May (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45