British Library still reluctant to lend out Gospels

“Christian hub” plan for priceless Gospels

The Newcastle Journal carries an interesting story this morning about formative plans to build a “sub-section” of the British Library at Palace Green, Durham in order to house the Lindisfarne Gospels as part of a Christian Hub. The plan, supported by the university and by North East MPs, also has the backing of the head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams.

Yet once again an official from the British Library plainly snubs the notions that we can securely and safely look after the ancient manuscript, or that visitors and scholars would be willing to travel to the North East to view it. Sir Colin Lucas, chairman of the British Library Board, said:

“The Lindisfarne Gospels are of fundamental importance to a heritage that reaches far beyond the region in which the manuscript was produced.

“Visitors and scholars come to the British Library to view and study it as one of an unparalleled collection of devotional manuscripts which form the foundation literature both of Christianity and other great religions. The British Library Board would be seriously derelict in its obligation to provide access to these manuscripts for people of all faiths and nationalities, if we allowed this collection to be broken up by removing one of its greatest treasures.”

Does he somehow imagine that Islamic, Sikh, Jewish, or Buddhist (or other) scholars would stay away simply because the Lindisfarne Gospels were displayed in a facility within the Palace Green of a Christian World Heritage Site? The British Library’s arguments against loaning the Lindisfarne Gospels to their natural homeland get more specious every time the subject is broached!

Has anyone considered that people from South Shields or other parts of the North East might not, or cannot, make the journey to London to view our own heritage?