Durham Gospels facts for kids
The Durham Gospels is a very old and special book from the late 600s. It's a type of book called a Gospel Book, which contains the four Gospels from the Bible. This book was made in a unique style called insular art, which was popular in Britain and Ireland a long time ago. Today, most of the Durham Gospels are kept safe in the Durham Cathedral Library in England.
One single page from this amazing book is actually in a different place, at Magdalene College, Cambridge.
Contents
What Makes the Durham Gospels Special?
The Durham Gospels are known for their beautiful decorations. However, because they are so old, only two of the fully decorated pages have survived. These include a picture of the Crucifixion, which is the oldest one known in English art! There's also a fancy first letter (called an Incipit) for the Gospel of John. Sadly, both of these pages are not in perfect condition today.
It's thought that the book originally had more decorated pages, like pictures of the people who wrote the Gospels (called evangelist portraits) and special pattern pages (called carpet pages). Many other Gospel books from that time had these.
A Journey Through Time
The Durham Gospels were first created at a place called Lindisfarne, which was an important religious center. Later, the monks from Lindisfarne had to move to Durham because of attacks from the Vikings. They took their precious books, including the Durham Gospels, with them to keep them safe.
Interestingly, the person who wrote the Durham Gospels was the same scribe (a person who copied books by hand) who also wrote another famous book called the Echternach Gospels. That book is now kept in Paris, France.
Not to Be Confused With...
There's another old book in the Durham Cathedral Library called the Durham Cathedral Library A. II. 10. Gospel Book Fragment. Sometimes people might call it the "Durham Gospels" by mistake. But usually, it's known as the "Durham Gospel Fragment" to avoid confusion.
A Role in Modern Ceremonies
Even today, the Durham Gospels are still very important! When a new Bishop of Durham starts their job, they use this ancient book to take their official oath. During this special ceremony, a student from Durham School holds the Gospels for the Bishop. It's a wonderful way to connect the past with the present.
