Marion E Wade Center Logo (without the)
Wade Center Outside September
Children during reading time
Reader in the Reading Room 2022

Marion E. Wade Center

A living literary center of scholarly, artistic,
and ongoing spiritual renewal

Wade Center logo - green

The Marion E. Wade Center promotes cultural engagement and spiritual formation by offering a collection of resources available nowhere else in the world. We emphasize the ongoing relevance of seven British Christian authors who provide a distinctive blend of intellect, imagination, and faith: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Dorothy L. Sayers, George MacDonald, G.K. Chesterton, Owen Barfield, and Charles Williams. The Wade Center implements these goals by 

  • Assisting scholars in their study of unique materials by and about these seven authors in order to generate new understandings;
  • Sharing insights with a broader audience through our numerous programs and publications;
  • Supporting artistic works inspired by our authors;
  • Welcoming visitors to our museum.

No image or text from this website may be used without the written consent of the Wade Center.
All rights reserved.


Jeffrey Barbeau

"C.S. Lewis and the Romantic Imagination" — 2023 Hansen Lectureship Series

Dr. Jeffrey Barbeau explores the influence of nineteenth-century Romanticism on the writings of C.S. Lewis in the 2023 Hansen Lectureship series, "C.S. Lewis and the Romantic Imagination."

Holly Ordway

"A Hard-Won Faith: Tolkien's Spiritual Journey" with Holly Ordway - Monday, September 25 @ 7pm CT in Bakke Auditorium

This lecture by Holly Ordway will discuss the story of J.R.R. Tolkien's spiritual development, and illustrate how aspects of Tolkien’s faith inspire Christians today to grow in their own spiritual lives. See the Mead Endowment for Spiritual Formation Event Page for more details.

Tolkien's Faith book cover

"Tolkien's Faith and the Formation of Middle-earth" with Holly Ordway - Tuesday, September 26 @ 4pm CT in Bakke Auditorium

Holly Ordway will explore the question "how were J.R.R. Tolkien's faith and fiction related?" from a biographical perspective. See the Mead Endowment for Spiritual Formation Event Page for more details.

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