Charles Williams was commissioned to produce this play to mark the 25th
anniversary of The Diocese of Chelmsford in 1939. Eight episodes, a
prologue and epilogue, make this a formidable work. It was intended to
be a large-scale pageant play and explores both historical and spiritual
themes. Charles Williams (1886-1945) was a British theologian,
playwright, novelist and poet. As a member of the 'Inklings' literary
group at Oxford, his work supported a strong sense of narrative.
Williams acknowledged the spiritual undercurrents present in life and
his literary explorations into Christian fantasy writing, such as
'Descent into Hell' (1937), earned him many followers. This classic work
is now being republished in a new modern edition with a specially
commissioned introductory biography.