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Yahoo
05-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Medieval scroll found in shoebox goes on display
A rare medieval illuminated manuscript uncovered in the archive of a York convent is going on display for the very first time. The 15th-century Arma Christi was found in a shoebox filled with leaflets from the 1980s at Bar Convent, by Dr Hannah Thomas, while she was cataloguing the religious order's collection. The scroll is set to become "the jewel in the crown" of the new Treasures gallery when it opens at the Living Heritage Centre this weekend. "You think maybe you've seen all the bits of York. This is a whole new bit that you haven't yet seen," said Dr Thomas. The manuscript, thought to date from about 1475, is one of only 11 copies known to have survived. Adorned with hand-drawn figures and ornate calligraphy, it features the prayer poem O Vernicle - with response texts written in red after each verse. Dr Thomas, the special collections manager, believes the response texts make it unique from other versions "suggesting it was used by groups or families as they gathered together for prayers in the home" - in communal worship, as well as private prayer. Additionally, it is written in English instead of the more traditional Latin, which means it probably would have belonged to a wealthy family rather than a church, she adds. Dr Thomas said the manuscript is in "incredible" condition compared to the other 10 that exist in the world, in places such as the Bodleian Library in Oxford, the British Library in London and Huntington Library in California. "Because it's not been unrolled very often, the images are a lot more clearly preserved. You can see a lot more of the detail," she said. "It's hugely important for the convent," she adds, "so people understand the role this building has played". "York's well-known for its medieval history - I think to have an extra unknown element to that is really special. "People come to visit a lot - and you think maybe you've seen all the bits of York. This is a whole new bit that you haven't yet seen." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Rare medieval manuscript found in convent shoebox
BBC News
05-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Rare medieval scroll found in shoebox goes on display in York
A rare medieval illuminated manuscript uncovered in the archive of a York convent is going on display for the very first 15th-century Arma Christi was found in a shoebox filled with leaflets from the 1980s at Bar Convent, by Dr Hannah Thomas, while she was cataloguing the religious order's scroll is set to become "the jewel in the crown" of the new Treasures gallery when it opens at the Living Heritage Centre this weekend."You think maybe you've seen all the bits of York. This is a whole new bit that you haven't yet seen," said Dr Thomas. The manuscript, thought to date from about 1475, is one of only 11 copies known to have with hand-drawn figures and ornate calligraphy, it features the prayer poem O Vernicle - with response texts written in red after each Thomas, the special collections manager, believes the response texts make it unique from other versions "suggesting it was used by groups or families as they gathered together for prayers in the home" - in communal worship, as well as private it is written in English instead of the more traditional Latin, which means it probably would have belonged to a wealthy family rather than a church, she adds. Dr Thomas said the manuscript is in "incredible" condition compared to the other 10 that exist in the world, in places such as the Bodleian Library in Oxford, the British Library in London and Huntington Library in California."Because it's not been unrolled very often, the images are a lot more clearly preserved. You can see a lot more of the detail," she said."It's hugely important for the convent," she adds, "so people understand the role this building has played"."York's well-known for its medieval history - I think to have an extra unknown element to that is really special."People come to visit a lot - and you think maybe you've seen all the bits of York. This is a whole new bit that you haven't yet seen." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rare medieval rolled manuscript found in convent
A rare medieval illuminated manuscript has been uncovered in a York convent's archive. Dr Hannah Thomas discovered the 15th-Century Arma Christi at Bar Convent while cataloguing the religious order's collection, calling it "one of the best-preserved examples ever found". The rolled document is one of only 11 copies known to have survived, the convent said, and featured the prayer poem O Vernicle with response texts written after each verse. Dr Thomas said the responses, written in red, suggested it was used in communal worship as well as private prayer. "With hand-drawn figures and beautiful calligraphy it's a medieval work of art in its own right," she said. The manuscript, thought to date from about 1475, was found in a shoebox containing leaflets from the 1980s. The special collections manager said the response texts made it unique from the other versions previously discovered, "suggesting it was used by groups or families as they gathered together for prayers in the home." Other Arma Christi manuscripts are held by museums and libraries around the world, including at the Bodleian Library in Oxford, the British Library in London and Huntington Library in California. There are no records of when this Arma Christi was passed into the order's care, according to Bar Convent, with the item due to go on public display in April. Sister Ann Stafford, mother superior, said the responses written on the scroll would now be used in a service at the convent's chapel. "We're delighted that presiding at the service will be the Bishop of Middlesbrough and the Archbishop of York," she said. "We plan to livestream the service so that the world can share in its discovery." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. Ancient Egyptian breadcrumb found in museum store How a church mouse started a woodworking dynasty The Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre
BBC News
15-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Rare medieval rolled manuscript found in York Bar Convent archive
A rare medieval illuminated manuscript has been uncovered in a York convent's Hannah Thomas discovered the 15th-Century Arma Christi at Bar Convent while cataloguing the religious order's collection, calling it "one of the best-preserved examples ever found".The rolled document is one of only 11 copies known to have survived, the convent said, and featured the prayer poem O Vernicle with response texts written after each Thomas said the responses, written in red, suggested it was used in communal worship as well as private prayer. "With hand-drawn figures and beautiful calligraphy it's a medieval work of art in its own right," she manuscript, thought to date from about 1475, was found in a shoebox containing leaflets from the special collections manager said the response texts made it unique from the other versions previously discovered, "suggesting it was used by groups or families as they gathered together for prayers in the home." Other Arma Christi manuscripts are held by museums and libraries around the world, including at the Bodleian Library in Oxford, the British Library in London and Huntington Library in are no records of when this Arma Christi was passed into the order's care, according to Bar Convent, with the item due to go on public display in Ann Stafford, mother superior, said the responses written on the scroll would now be used in a service at the convent's chapel."We're delighted that presiding at the service will be the Bishop of Middlesbrough and the Archbishop of York," she said."We plan to livestream the service so that the world can share in its discovery." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
