Patrons’ Event - The St Cuthbert Gospel

In August 2011 the British Library announced an ambitious fundraising campaign to acquire the St Cuthbert Gospel, the oldest intact Western book created in the 7th century–a book of unparalleled significance to our understanding of historic cultural influences.

As part a special series of events, Patrons were given a rare opportunity to inspect the St Cuthbert Gospel at close quarters alongside contemporary items from the Library’s rich manuscripts collection.

Curatorial experts retraced the life of St Cuthbert before describing the fine craftsmanship that went into the Gospel, how it came to be so closely associated with the saint, and its survival during the upheavals of viking raids, the Norman Conquest and the Reformation.

The Library’s Chairman, Baroness Blackstone, also summarised the milestones that have been reached so far in acquisition project: more than two-thirds of the £9m purchase price, thanks to a landmark gift from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and generous support from the Art Fund, the Garfield Weston Foundation and others. However, the Library still has to find £2.6million to purchase the Gospel before the end of March 2012.

Click here to make a donation to the acquisition of the St Cuthbert Gospel.

Next Patron’s Event: 6:30pm – 8:00pm, 1 December – A King’s Christmas. This year’s festive celebration for Patrons will include special guided tours of the eagerly-anticipated Royal Manuscripts: The Genius of Illumination exhibition.

Join the Library’s Patrons’ Programme and help make your mark on history today. For more information, visit Become a Patron.