17 March 2024
Sarum College is delighted to welcome visitors to another opportunity to view the seven volumes of the Saint John’s Bible at Sarum College.
There will be three free Open Days from Thursday 25 April to Sunday 28 April 2024, with viewing hours 
from 10am to 5pm each day.
Guides will be on hand to answer questions and visitors may take photographs.
The Saint John’s Bible is the first handwritten and illuminated Bible commissioned by a Benedictine monastery since the invention of the printing press in the 15th century.
Uniting modern technology and ancient Benedictine tradition, the project to create and distribute the bible aims to inspire the imagination of modern seekers. The Heritage Edition, commissioned by the Abbey and Saint John’s University, Minnesota, was donated to Sarum College in 2023.
“In our digital world where we can carry the Bible on our mobile phones, we do well to acknowledge the ongoing significance of the physical text. Books remain an important part of our search for truth,” says The Revd Canon Professor James Woodward, Principal of Sarum College.
“These holy words have been the source of conflict down the centuries. They have also inspired imagination in art, music, politics and social change. The text is never neutral. It can highlight our deepest differences but also unite us in vocation, learning and spiritual growth. This is an ancient text for a modern world. We shall cherish these volumes and use them.”
Visitor comments from the Open Week held in late 2023.
“Beautiful work, giving new life and viewpoint to a historic work!”
“An awesome ongoing journey of new discoveries.”
“A most wonderful and stupendous work of art giving light and joy.”
“Wonderful experience – resonated at a deep level – thank you.”
“Thrilling to see such imagination working together with spirituality + design.”
“Utterly beautiful + inspirational.”
“Revelatory on almost every turn in so many ways!”
“Quite amazing. It makes one want to revisit the bible.”
“Extraordinary and beautiful: inspiring to read and to see God’s word brought to life in this way. A memorable reading.”
This event is free and open to the public. Please contact the Sarum College Library (library@sarum.ac.uk) for any queries.
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