Just 90 days to raise £90,000 to return 13th-century Bible to Salisbury Cathedral where it was written

It is only one of six manuscripts to be attributed to the medieval artist the Sarum Master

The rare 13th-century Bible would be returned to Salisbury Cathedral (PA)

A rare 13th-century Bible could return to its ancestral home in Salisbury Cathedral more than 700 years after it was written.

It is one of only six manuscripts attributed to the Sarum Master, one of the greatest artists of the medieval period who illuminated pages of vellum from a workshop in Salisbury.

The English manuscript artist was known for his work in religious manuscripts, particularly the Sarum Missal – used for the liturgical practices of the cathedral, influencing English Christianity before the Reformation.

At the time, no other cities apart from London and Oxford supported this scale of book production, with Salisbury becoming renowned as an academic and cultural centre.

Now, the Friends of the Nations’ Libraries (FNL), which protects the UK’s written and printed history, is campaigning to raise £90,000 within 90 days to return the Bible to its ancestral home. It is currently in the hands of a private collector.

Geordie Greig, chair of FNL, said: “I am determined that this campaign by Friends of the Nations’ Libraries to return a literary treasure to an ancient cathedral library 700 years after it was written by one of the few known medieval artists will be successful.

The Bible is one of only six manuscripts to be attributed to the medieval artist the Sarum Master, who had a workshop in Salisbury (Salisbury Cathedral)

“To achieve this we are asking the public and donors to help us to save the Master of Sarum Salisbury Bible, a treasure of infinite historical and bibliographical merit.”

Christopher de Hamel, an expert on medieval manuscripts, said: “The Sarum Master was one of the earliest manuscript artists in England of whom we have a recognisable oeuvre.

He added that Salisbury’s flourishing book trade during the medieval period meant that its published manuscripts were available for purchase, which led to the local Use of Sarum becoming standard for all of southern England until the Reformation period.

The artist is known for his intricate and highly stylised illustrations that were characteristic of Gothic art. His work includes detailed images of saints, biblical scenes, and illuminated initials, with vibrant colours, flowing lines, and elaborate gold leaf.

Salisbury Cathedral is visited by around 250,000 people each year and boasts the tallest spire in the country which stands at 123 metres.

Friends of the Nations’ Libraries hopes to raise £90,000 to buy the Bible and return it to the cathedral (Salisbury Cathedral)

It also houses a library, which was founded in 1445, holds a large collection of manuscripts dating from the 9th century and is one of the earliest purpose-built library rooms in England.

Among its prized possessions is one of only four remaining copies of the 1215 Magna Carta and the world’s oldest mechanical clock.

The Very Reverend Nicholas Papadopulos, Dean of Salisbury said: “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 century’s long tradition of creativity at Salisbury. We are delighted at the prospect of being able to share this treasure with visitors to the cathedral library in the future.”

You can donate here: https://www.fnl.org.uk/pages/12-donate