The Sarum Master Bible, a rare and exquisitely illuminated 13th-century manuscript, has returned to Salisbury Cathedral in England nearly 800 years after it was created. The medieval Bible is now on public display at the cathedral until 20 March, marking the first time in centuries that it has been accessible to the public.
This remarkable manuscript, just 17cm tall, is an early English example of a small, portable Bible. Written on fine parchment, it is adorned with highly detailed initials, some purely decorative and others historiated, depicting biblical scenes. Its return to Salisbury was made possible through a successful £90,000 fundraising campaign led by Friends of the Nations’ Libraries (FNL), which secured the Bible from a private owner via Sotheby’s and donated it to the cathedral.
The Sarum Master, the manuscript’s illuminator, was one of the earliest professional book artists in England, active in the 1240s and 1250s. His work is known from only six surviving manuscripts, with the other five held in public collections. At the time of the Bible’s creation, Salisbury was a flourishing artistic and intellectual hub, with its cathedral under construction and its schools nearly elevating the city to university status. Christopher de Hamel, a leading expert on medieval manuscripts, notes that “Salisbury and Oxford had the first professional book illuminators in England, ahead of London.”
The Very Reverend Nicholas Papadopulos, Dean of Salisbury, expressed the cathedral’s gratitude for the efforts to bring the Bible home: “We are immensely grateful to the Friends of the Nations’ Libraries for their invaluable support with the campaign to bring the Sarum Bible back to Salisbury after nearly 800 years. The artistry of the Sarum Master speaks to a centuries-long tradition of creativity at Salisbury.”
Photo by Finnbarr Webster and courtesy of Salisbury Cathedral.
The Sarum Master Bible’s return was celebrated with a Choral Evensong and a reception at Salisbury Cathedral, where many of the donors who contributed to its acquisition had the opportunity to see the manuscript up close. In addition to the public display, plans are underway to digitize the manuscript and organize study sessions exploring its artistry and historical significance. For visitors, this exhibition offers a rare chance to see a medieval treasure reunited with its city of origin after centuries in private hands.
The Sarum Master Bible, a rare and exquisitely illuminated 13th-century manuscript, has returned to Salisbury Cathedral in England nearly 800 years after it was created. The medieval Bible is now on public display at the cathedral until 20 March, marking the first time in centuries that it has been accessible to the public.
This remarkable manuscript, just 17cm tall, is an early English example of a small, portable Bible. Written on fine parchment, it is adorned with highly detailed initials, some purely decorative and others historiated, depicting biblical scenes. Its return to Salisbury was made possible through a successful £90,000 fundraising campaign led by Friends of the Nations’ Libraries (FNL), which secured the Bible from a private owner via Sotheby’s and donated it to the cathedral.
The Sarum Master, the manuscript’s illuminator, was one of the earliest professional book artists in England, active in the 1240s and 1250s. His work is known from only six surviving manuscripts, with the other five held in public collections. At the time of the Bible’s creation, Salisbury was a flourishing artistic and intellectual hub, with its cathedral under construction and its schools nearly elevating the city to university status. Christopher de Hamel, a leading expert on medieval manuscripts, notes that “Salisbury and Oxford had the first professional book illuminators in England, ahead of London.”
The Very Reverend Nicholas Papadopulos, Dean of Salisbury, expressed the cathedral’s gratitude for the efforts to bring the Bible home: “We are immensely grateful to the Friends of the Nations’ Libraries for their invaluable support with the campaign to bring the Sarum Bible back to Salisbury after nearly 800 years. The artistry of the Sarum Master speaks to a centuries-long tradition of creativity at Salisbury.”
The Sarum Master Bible’s return was celebrated with a Choral Evensong and a reception at Salisbury Cathedral, where many of the donors who contributed to its acquisition had the opportunity to see the manuscript up close. In addition to the public display, plans are underway to digitize the manuscript and organize study sessions exploring its artistry and historical significance. For visitors, this exhibition offers a rare chance to see a medieval treasure reunited with its city of origin after centuries in private hands.
To learn more about the exhibition, please visit the Salisbury Cathedral website.
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