The Northumbrian Association is a registered charity, promoting heritage and culture from the Tees to the Tweed. Its patrons are The Duke of Northumberland and the Bishop of Durham. The campaign for the Return of the gospels came out of a demand from ordinary people of Northumberland and Durham who asked why they had to travel to London to see the Lindisfarne Gospels. The campaign began when a group travelled to the British Library .They were accompanied by a Northumbrian piper.Kathryn Tickell composed a tune “The Return” which is available on the CD.

In 2000 another group of the Northumbrian Association with supporters travelled to London. They were met outside the library by TV cameras. And had an informal meeting with some Library officials. The campaign was supported by local papers at that time one being the Newcastle Journal.

The campaign was followed in 2001 by the Visit of the gospels to the Laing Art Gallery where 180,000 people visited it. The continuing campaign for the permanent return was followed by the production of the facsimile gospels and the Painted labyrinth exhibition.

The continuing campaign led to a meeting with the Chairman of the Board of the British Library and Council members of the Association plus a cross section of supportive MPs. It had been expected that this group was to meet the whole board. Reports in the local press seemed to indicate some movement on behalf of the board.

Another meeting was arranged by the Board, which was scheduled for the State Opening of Parliament. Of our supporting MPs only Joyce Quinn could make the meeting (unsurprisingly) with the Association Chairman and another committee member. This meeting with about twenty board members and officials consisted of the board putting its case and the Association and Joyce Quinn responding.

The meeting was followed by a letter stating that the Board would never consider the repatriation of the Gospels. It was accompanied by a report on the condition of the Gospels, which was thought to have been independent but in the event was made by the Library with some input from those in charge of the book of Kells.

The campaign continues, currently it is being actively supported by the Sunday Sun. Over the years reports on the campaign have led to great interest amongst the general public and numerous public letters of support. At a dinner at the House of Commons support for the return of the gospels was signed by a number of prominent local figures.