A rare medieval scroll has been uncovered in the archives of Bar Convent in York, England, revealing new insights into devotional practices. The illuminated Arma Christi scroll, featuring the prayer poem O Vernicle, is one of the best-preserved examples ever found.
Discovered by Special Collections Manager Dr Hannah Thomas, the scroll is particularly significant as it includes response texts after each verse — a feature not seen in previously known copies. This suggests it may have been used in communal worship rather than solely for private devotion.
Only ten other Arma Christi scrolls are known to exist, all dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. Produced by skilled craftsmen, such devotional items were rare even in their own time and became even scarcer following the Reformation and the outlawing of Catholicism under Elizabeth I. The Bar Convent scroll, thought to date from around 1475, may be among the last of its kind.
Dr Thomas made the discovery while cataloguing the convent’s collection. Initially appearing as a small, unassuming document, the scroll revealed its intricate details once unfurled. “This is an illuminated script, with hand-drawn figures and beautiful calligraphy—it is a medieval work of art in its own right,” she explains. “What makes it unique is the inclusion of response texts, indicating it was likely used by groups or families during prayer.”
Founded in 1686, Bar Convent is England’s oldest surviving Catholic convent and has long been a custodian of religious artifacts. Many items in its collection were entrusted to the sisters during centuries of persecution. While some objects have been on public display, a full cataloguing effort has only recently begun. Records do not indicate when the Arma Christi scroll entered the convent’s care.
The scroll will be the centrepiece of a new exhibition at the Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre, opening on 5 April 2025. “This discovery has remained hidden for over 500 years, so we know people won’t mind waiting a little longer to see it,” says Sister Ann Stafford, Superior of the Bar Convent. A special Mass incorporating prayers from the scroll will also be held, attended by representatives from the Archbishop of York’s office, local dignitaries, and faith leaders. The service is expected to be livestreamed.
For more details or to book tickets for the exhibition, visit www.barconvent.co.uk.
A rare medieval scroll has been uncovered in the archives of Bar Convent in York, England, revealing new insights into devotional practices. The illuminated Arma Christi scroll, featuring the prayer poem O Vernicle, is one of the best-preserved examples ever found.
Discovered by Special Collections Manager Dr Hannah Thomas, the scroll is particularly significant as it includes response texts after each verse — a feature not seen in previously known copies. This suggests it may have been used in communal worship rather than solely for private devotion.
Only ten other Arma Christi scrolls are known to exist, all dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. Produced by skilled craftsmen, such devotional items were rare even in their own time and became even scarcer following the Reformation and the outlawing of Catholicism under Elizabeth I. The Bar Convent scroll, thought to date from around 1475, may be among the last of its kind.
Dr Thomas made the discovery while cataloguing the convent’s collection. Initially appearing as a small, unassuming document, the scroll revealed its intricate details once unfurled. “This is an illuminated script, with hand-drawn figures and beautiful calligraphy—it is a medieval work of art in its own right,” she explains. “What makes it unique is the inclusion of response texts, indicating it was likely used by groups or families during prayer.”
Founded in 1686, Bar Convent is England’s oldest surviving Catholic convent and has long been a custodian of religious artifacts. Many items in its collection were entrusted to the sisters during centuries of persecution. While some objects have been on public display, a full cataloguing effort has only recently begun. Records do not indicate when the Arma Christi scroll entered the convent’s care.
The scroll will be the centrepiece of a new exhibition at the Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre, opening on 5 April 2025. “This discovery has remained hidden for over 500 years, so we know people won’t mind waiting a little longer to see it,” says Sister Ann Stafford, Superior of the Bar Convent. A special Mass incorporating prayers from the scroll will also be held, attended by representatives from the Archbishop of York’s office, local dignitaries, and faith leaders. The service is expected to be livestreamed.
For more details or to book tickets for the exhibition, visit www.barconvent.co.uk.
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