On March 25, 2026, Archbishop Sarah Mullally will be installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, beginning her public ministry in the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion. In a historic departure from tradition, the new Archbishop 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. This marks the first time since 1945 that a Bible other than the 6th-century Gospels has been used for the swearing-in ceremony.
The Augustine Gospels, housed at Corpus Christi College in Cambridge, are considered a relic of St. Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury. However, their fragility and the difficulty of moving them prompted Canterbury Cathedral to choose an alternative for this occasion. To honor the installation of the first female Archbishop, the Cathedral selected its Heritage Edition of The Saint John's Bible, a facsimile of which only 299 exist worldwide. This Bible, described as a Bible for the 21st century, is the first hand-scribed, illuminated manuscript commissioned by a Benedictine Monastery since the invention of the printing press over 500 years ago.
Created by artistic director Donald Jackson, former senior scribe to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Crown Office at the House of Lords, The Saint John's Bible blends ancient tradition with modern themes. During the installation service, the Bible will be open to the beginning of Luke 1 on the Nave altar, and the Archbishop will lay her hand on it as she takes her oath. The Heritage Edition was blessed and dedicated at Canterbury Cathedral on November 11, 2023, thanks to the generosity of Elaine and Bruce Culver.
The Cathedral has also adorned this Heritage Edition with a special bookmark made by retired physician and cathedral stitcher Dr. Alyson Osterloh in March 2024, crafted from textiles found in the Cathedral Sewing Room. Additionally, an Apostles Edition of The Saint John's Bible, 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 use of this modern Bible underscores the significance of this moment in church history, symbolizing a blend of tradition and contemporary faith. The Church of England will livestream the service on March 25, 2026, at 10:30 am ET. For more information about The Saint John's Bible, visit saintjohnsbible.org.
