On Saturday 20 July over 40 members of the congregation traveled to Durham to see the Exhibition of the Lindisfarne Gospels at Palace Green Library.

We meet together to have a picnic outside the Cathedral on a warm, but cloudy day summer’s day (we were very glad that the temperature was not as hot as the previous week!).  After everyone had had time for lunch and a wander around the Cathedral we all met at the Exhibition.  We had a timed slot so we only had to wait about 10 minutes and we were off.

We were ushered in to the temperature and light controlled environment, a bit like entering a spaceship! although this one was going back in time and not into the future.  Each room explained about life in the north east in the 8th century, how these incredible books were produced, the importance of Lindisfarne, St Aidan, St Cuthbert and the life of the church in Northumbria and beyond.  The exhibition culminated in the Gospels Room, where the Lindisfarne Gospels, the St Cuthbert Gospel and the Durham Gospels together with treasures from St Cuthbert’s tomb were gathered together – a breath-taking sight.  It was amassing that books so old could be so vibrant and the colours of the paint still so vivid.

Upstairs the exhibition continues with a display on how the gospels were produced, along side special areas for children to discover more about the gospels.  This part of the exhibition was enjoyed by all too and is open access to the public.

The day ended with tea and then Evensong in the Cathedral a glorious sound to end a very special day

Everyone was impressed and moved by the exhibition and if you haven’t been- GO! You wont regret it, but you may regret not going at all.