On March 25, 2026, Archbishop Sarah Mullally will be installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first female to hold the position. In a break from tradition, she will swear her oath on The Saint John's Bible Heritage Edition, a modern illuminated manuscript, rather than the ancient Augustine Gospels used for nearly 60 years. The Augustine Gospels, a 6th-century relic, are too fragile to be moved from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
The Saint John's Bible is described as a Bible 'for the 21st century' and is the first hand-scribed, illuminated manuscript commissioned by a Benedictine Monastery since the invention of the printing press. Created by artistic director Donald Jackson, former senior scribe to Queen Elizabeth II, it blends ancient tradition with modern themes. During the installation, the Bible will be open to Luke 1 on the Nave altar, and the Archbishop will lay her hand on it as she takes her oath.
Canterbury Cathedral blessed and dedicated a Heritage Edition of The Saint John's Bible on November 11, 2023, made possible through the generosity of Elaine and Bruce Culver. Only 299 Heritage Editions exist worldwide. The Cathedral adorned this edition with a special bookmark made by Dr. Alyson Osterloh, a retired physician and member of the Holy Stitchers, using textiles from the Cathedral Sewing Room. Additionally, an Apostles Edition, of which only 12 exist, was gifted to Lambeth Palace on November 8, 2023, and is now available for public viewing at the Lambeth Palace Library.
The choice of this modern Bible underscores a commitment to contemporary expression of faith while honoring tradition. The original manuscript of The Saint John's Bible resides at the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library at Saint John's University. The Heritage and Apostles Editions are fine art reproductions designed to capture the spirit of the original. For more information, visit https://saintjohnsbible.org.
The Church of England will livestream the service on March 25, 2026 at 10:30 am ET. This historic installation not only marks a milestone for gender equality but also symbolizes a bridge between ancient traditions and modern faith practices.
