What was C.S. Lewis’s Cambridge University professorship called when he took it in 1954?

C.S. Lewis’s Cambridge professorship was the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.

Lewis left Oxford in 1954 to become the first holder of this chair at Cambridge University. The appointment recognized his expertise in older English literature, especially medieval and Renaissance texts. His academic work included studies of allegory, literary history, and the development of English writing across major historical periods.

The move did not end his connection with Oxford. He continued to live in Oxford and traveled to Cambridge for his teaching and academic duties. This arrangement reflected both his long-established home in Oxford and his new institutional role at Cambridge.

Lewis is often remembered primarily as a Christian apologist or children’s author, but his professional identity was that of a literary scholar. His academic books, including The Allegory of Love and English Literature in the Sixteenth Century, helped establish his standing before and alongside his popular works. The Cambridge chair therefore represents an important part of his scholarly career.