Hereford Cathedral is displaying one of its most precious manuscripts in a new exhibition, Shaping Early Medieval Faith: The Hereford Gospels.
The exhibition, which opened this week in the cathedral’s Mappa Mundi & Chained Library Museum, explores how the Gospels were created and used through the centuries.
Written over 1200 years ago, the Gospels are the oldest text in the cathedral’s collection.
The exhibition will also share the results of fascinating new scientific imaging which has revealed even more of the manuscript’s history.
Also featured within the exhibition are loans from other collections, including:
- Gospel Lectionary on loan from Pembroke College, Cambridge
- A beautifully decorated 11th century gospel lectionary which may have been made in Hereford and includes illuminated portraits of the four evangelists
- Anglo-Saxon Sword – Found underneath the cathedral’s New Library Building, it is believed that the sword belonged to a child Marden Bell on loan from Herefordshire Museums and Galleries, Herefordshire Council. Believed to be from as early as the 9th century, the hand bell would likely have been used to bring people to services and has links to the initial burial place of the cathedral’s patron saint Ethelbert
The loans are supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. Created by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Art Fund, the Weston Loan Programme is the first ever UK-wide funding scheme to enable smaller and local authority museums to borrow works of art and artefacts from national collections.
Several other items from the cathedral’s collections will also be included, such as a copy of the earliest English poem written in the margin of Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People and a guide to learning for 9th century monks.
A diverse programme of events has been planned alongside the exhibition, including lectures, embroidery sessions and ink making and calligraphy workshops.
The programme of events will also feature an online symposium (Friday 26 June) hosted by The Rt Revd Dr David Thomson and featuring Dr Andy Beeby, Dr Bill Endres, Pete Furniss, Dr Richard Gameson, Peter McIntosh & Elizabeth Semper O’Keefe.
Jennifer Dumbelton, Hereford Cathedral Librarian, said:
“The Hereford Gospels are an incredible manuscript, full of history and connection to the cathedral’s past. Shaping Early Medieval Faith is an exciting opportunity to see a wonderful range of artefacts which will help illustrate and celebrate the Christian story at Hereford Cathedral. I’m thrilled to see the Hereford Gospels celebrated by both local and national contributors and hope visitors find it as magical as I do.”
Sophia Weston, Deputy Chair of the Garfield Weston Foundation, said:
“As the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund celebrates its 10th round of funding in 2026, we are delighted to support this exhibition in Hereford, which will shine a new light on one of the cathedral’s most precious manuscripts, and give visitors the opportunity to discover this important piece of local history.”
Shaping Early Medieval Faith: The Hereford Gospels opened in the Mappa Mundi & Chained Library Museum at Hereford Cathedral from Monday 30 March – Saturday 12 September. Tickets can be purchased in advance from herefordcathedral.org or on admission.
