Growing donations fuel campaign to return 13th-century Sarum Master Bible to Salisbury Cathedral
Lisa Nandy described efforts to return the rare tome to its original location as ‘our country at its best’
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Your support makes all the difference.Dozens of Independent readers have rallied to save an exquisite 13th-century Bible crafted for Salisbury Cathedral nearly 700 years ago.
This comes just a day after Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, praised the campaign to bring the Sarum Master Bible back to its historic home, calling it an example of “our country at its best”.
The Bible is one of only six manuscripts attributed to the Sarum Master, a renowned medieval artist known for his illuminated vellum pages produced in his Salisbury workshop. The campaign, led by Friends of the National Libraries (FNL), seeks to raise £90,000 within 90 days to acquire the manuscript from a private collector.
On Wednesday, the Rothschild Foundation made a generous donation through Dame Hannah Rothschild. A spokesperson for the foundation said: “The Rothschild Foundation is delighted to support our nation’s literary and bibliographical heritage by contributing to the campaign to return this magnificent 700-year-old Bible to the place where it was created.”
This support follows a £10,000 donation from the Old Possum’s Practical Trust, founded by Valerie Eliot, TS Eliot’s widow, in 1990 to promote literary and cultural initiatives. Proceeds from Cats, based on Eliot’s work, have funded many projects supporting his literary legacy.
The Sarum Master was celebrated for religious manuscripts, including the Sarum Missal, which influenced English Christianity until the Reformation. With its flourishing medieval book trade, Salisbury became a prominent academic and cultural hub, and the “Use of Sarum” – the liturgical style developed there – became the standard for southern England.
Ms Nandy expressed her support, stating: “This campaign to return a book handwritten by one of England’s most celebrated medieval artists to its place of origin showcases our country at its best.”
Geordie Greig, chair of FNL, said: “I am committed to ensuring this campaign to return a literary treasure to Salisbury, 700 years after it was created, will succeed. We ask the public and donors to help us save this work of immense historical and bibliographical importance.”
Medieval manuscript expert Christopher de Hamel noted, “The Sarum Master was one of the earliest recognisable manuscript artists in England.” His Gothic-style illustrations, distinguished by detailed saintly figures, biblical scenes, and illuminated initials with vibrant colours and gold leaf, make this Bible a rare masterpiece.
Salisbury Cathedral, visited by 250,000 people annually, holds the UK’s tallest spire at 123 metres and is home to a vast manuscript collection, including one of four remaining copies of the 1215 Magna Carta and the world’s oldest mechanical clock. Among its treasures, the cathedral library, founded in 1445, ranks as one of England’s earliest purpose-built libraries.
The Very Rev Nicholas Papadopulos, dean of Salisbury, expressed gratitude for the FNL’s efforts, stating: “The artistry of the Sarum Master reflects Salisbury’s centuries-long tradition of creativity. We look forward to sharing this treasure with future visitors to the cathedral library.”
You can donate here: Return the Sarum Master Bible to Salisbury Cathedral
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