Gospels at the Laing

Date: 2000-10-10, Publication: The Journal

THE Lindisfarne Gospels came home yesterday and were given a royal welcome.
Prince Andrew was on hand to see the priceless treasures return to the North-East.

He was given an exclusive preview of the Gospels before their much-awaited exhibition opens to the public today.

The Duke of York toured the exhibition, accompanied by The Bishop of Newcastle, The Rt Rev Martin Wharton, the city's Lord Mayor, Coun Peter Thomson, and Dr Michelle Brown, curator of illuminated manuscripts at the British Library in London.

He then signed the visitors' book after spending about an hour viewing the exhibition.

The loaning of the Gospels by the British Library to the Laing for three months has heightened the debate on whether they should be returned permanently to the region.

And Dr Brown revealed the Duke of York had refused to be drawn into the debate, despite gentle prompting from both the Bishop and the Lord Mayor of Newcastle.

She did point out that an equally significant manuscript was already housed in the region, although few were aware of their existence.

"The Durham Gospels, which for the duration of the exhibition are being displayed next to the Lindisfarne Gospels, are every bit as significant.

"They pre-date the Lindisfarne Gospels and were probably created by the monk who taught Eadfrith, the bishop of Lindisfarne. They are normally housed in the treasury at Durham Cathedral, but relatively few people are aware of their existence, whereas the Lindisfarne Gospels are a world famous manuscript.

"However, if the publicity machine got into gear then the Durham Gospels could also become a major attraction."

Eadfrith, bishop from 698 to 721, is credited as the author of the Lindisfarne Gospels.

Dr Brown, probably the world's foremost authority on the origins of the Gospels, said the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Durham Gospels were two of a trilogy.

The third manuscript of the trilogy, the Echternach Gospels, are housed in the Bibliotech Nationale in Paris.

"They were taken by St Willibrord, an English missionary, to the French/Germanic people of Echternach, which is a town now in Luxembourg."
Research by Dr Brown at the British Library recently led to the discovery of 60 previously undetected drawings from the Gospels, as well as connecting them to the Venerable Bede.

Although they were written by Eadfrith "in honour of God and St Cuthbert and the whole company of saints whose relics are on the island (Lindisfarne) her research post-dated them by around 22 years to 720AD, meaning Bede, author of the first English history book, was likely to have been involved in producing the masterpiece.

She says the Gospels "proclaimed to Rome that the young English church was no provincial outpost, but vibrant and integrated. The monks on Lindisfarne saw themselves as apostles".

The Journal is one of five sponsors of the Gospels at the Laing exhibition, the others being Barbour, from South Tyneside, Sanderson Young, VaTech Reyrolle of Hebburn, and Procter & Gamble.

Each company is sponsoring one of the five pages which will be on display during the three months of the exhibition.

St Jerome's Letter to Pope Damascus will be first on display from the opening day of the exhibition until October 24 and will be followed by the illuminated initial and carpet page at the beginning of each gospel."

Christopher de Lapuente, vice president and managing director of Procter & Gamble, told The Journal he believed the permanent return of the Lindisfarne Gospels to the region could aid a joint bid by Newcastle and Gateshead to be European Capital of Culture 2008.

"We decided to sponsor the exhibition because of the educational value it will provide to the thousands of children who visit it.

"I believe the return of the Gospels would enhance the bid to become a culture capital, as will the Music Centre on the Gateshead bank of the Tyne.

"The image of the North-East is changing, and its appearance has changed tremendously even during the past 10 years.

"When you think back to Newcastle Quayside, there was nothing much there a few years ago and now it is booming.

"People travel to Newcastle because of its reputation as a party city, but the cultural side is also thriving, through concerts at the Arena like the recent Pavarotti performance, the continuous success of the RSC season, and the impending arrival of the Music Centre.

"Exhibitions such as this re-enforce the message that culturally the North-East has an awful lot to offer," said Mr de Lapuente.

Coun Barney Rice, chair of Tyne and Wear joint museums committee, who was also presented to the Duke of York, said: "The Lindisfarne Gospels are a magnificent testimony to the rich heritage of Northumbria and it is appropriate that they can be seen in the North-East during the Millennium. We are delighted that the Gospels will be on display at the Laing and that people will be able to see this national treasure free of charge."

Visitors to the Laing today will not only see the Gospels but they will also be able to meet an Anglo-Saxon peasant or two!

A day of family activities is planned to mark the opening of the exhibition, when members of the Theod re-enactment group dressed in period costume will talk to visitors about life in Anglo-Saxon times.

They will also use replicas of Anglo-Saxon cooking and weaving tools to demonstrate Anglo-Saxon techniques.

Also today, between 10.30-am and 3.30pm, visitors can create colourful decorative lettering inspired by the Gospels.

All ages can drop into the illuminated lettering workshops with lettering artist Christopher Bowen.

Further activities, demonstrations and talks are planned throughout the exhibition.

For further information pick up a leaflet from the gallery or telephone (0191) 232-7734.

Lunchtime talks will also take place at The Laing on Wednesdays from 12.30pm-1.15pm from October 18 onwards.

The exhibition includes a copy of Turning the Pages, a virtual edition of the Lindisfarne Gospels devised by the British Library.

Visitors can touch the screen of a computer terminal and turn the pages of the 'virtual gospels' so they can see a selection of the illuminated pages.

Comment:
"WE hope the thousands who will undoubtedly visit Newcastle's Laing Art Gallery to view the Lindisfarne Gospels will ask themselves why the opportunity should be so rare.

The British Library maintains that it must remain in London to be accessible to visiting academics. Are they incapable of getting the train or plane to the North-East? The Gospels should be found a permanent home where they belong - in the land which was once Northumbria."

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