Thanks to generous donors FNL both bought the 13th-century Sarum Master Bible for Salisbury Cathedral and funded many activities relating to it - including a special lecture by Christopher de Hamel, an expert on medieval manuscripts.
Anne Dutton, Librarian of Salisbury Cathedral, reports that the lecture was excellent, 'It was scholarly and informative, full of detail, but still very accessible to a general audience.' The lecture was fully booked (150 people) weeks ago underlining the huge interest that the Sarum Master Bible has generated.
The Bible was also on display giving the audience plenty of time to study it closely.
Here is some of the feedback:
'There are few words to describe last nights talk in the North Transept. Christopher de Hamel’s talk on The Sarum Master Bible was magnificent. A Tour de Force. My colleague and I were drawn in and wrapped up in the 13th century and all that surrounds. To be remembered and talked about for a long time to come.'
'Allow me to congratulate you on the effort which you have obviously put in, to enable the return of The Sarum Master Bible to the Cathedral and to getting Dr Christopher de Hamel to deliver such an intriguing talk about the history of manuscripts of the time. I learnt a lot from the lecture.'
'It was a real privilege to listen to the presentation by Dr Christopher de Hamel yesterday evening at the Cathedral. … In your concluding words, you could rightly affirm that the Sarum Master Bible belongs in its new home in Salisbury Cathedral, a homecoming supported by generous donations from the Friends of the Nations' Libraries and individual supporters.'
Thank you again to all of you who gave generous donations and enabled us to save the Sarum Master Bible for the nation - forever to remain in Salisbury Cathedral.
The images below are by Cassie Dalby and courtesy of Salisbury Cathedral.
