For the first time since 1945, the Church of England has used a modern Bible to swear in the new Archbishop of Canterbury. Archbishop Sarah Mullally was installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury on March 25.
The event marks the start of her public ministry in the Church of England and worldwide Anglican Communion. For the first time since 1945, a new Bible, The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition, was part of the ceremony.
The Bible used to swear in the new Archbishop of Canterbury holds great significance. For nearly 60 years, Archbishops of Canterbury have been sworn in using the 6th-century Augustine Gospels, believed to be a relic of St Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury.
However, the gospels, which reside at Corpus Christi College in Cambridge, are fragile and not easily moved. So, to honor the occasion of installing the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, the Cathedral chose to use its Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible.
Described as a Bible “for the 21st century,” The Saint John’s Bible is the first hand-scribed, illuminated manuscript commissioned by a Benedictine Monastery since the invention of the printing press more than 500 years ago. The Bible, which was created by artistic director Donald Jackson, former senior scribe to Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II’s Crown Office at the House of Lords, blends ancient tradition with modern themes.
During the Installation, the Bible was open to the beginning of Luke 1. The archbishop placed her hand on it as she took her oath.
Canterbury Cathedral blessed and dedicated this Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible, a facsimile of which there are only 299 in the world, on Nov. 11, 2023.