Rare medieval bible returned to shelf at Canterbury Cathedral

Small illuminated volume lost to monastic library in 16th century bought for £100,000

A 13th century bible, one of a handful of books which survived intact when the library of Canterbury Cathedral was broken up at the time of the Reformation, is back in the building after almost 500 years.

The Lyghfield bible - named for a monk at the cathedral who once owned it - is the only complete bible and the finest illuminated book known to have survived from the medieval collection. The cathedral won a grant of almost £96,000 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) and raised £4,000 more to buy it at a recent rare books sale in London.

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