Commons to debate return of the Gospels

Date: 2004-02-23, Publication: The Northern Echo

THE campaign to bring the Lindisfarne Gospels back to the North-East will be debated in Parliament this week.

Campaigners have been fighting to move the Gospels from the British Library, in London, and bring them to Durham Cathedral or Holy Island, off the Northumberland coast.

Gateshead East MP Joyce Quinn is to raise the issue in the Commons on Wednesday.

Ms Quinn believes the return of the priceless illuminated texts would be a lift to the regions image.

She said: "Having the originals in the region would be a huge boost to the regions economy and to our growing tourist industry.

"We have put a lot of effort in recent years, particularly in areas like Gateshead, showing the link between culture and economic regeneration.

"The return of the Lindisfarne Gospels would be a huge boost in this direction.

"Culture is not an optional add-on these days, it is very much part of the intrinsic attraction of the region."

Campaigners from the Northumbrian Association want the manuscripts returned.

The Gospels were produced by Seventh Century monks on Holy Island, and were kept in Durham Cathedral for hundreds of years until the Reformation.

They were moved to London in 1537 on the orders of King Henry VIII.

The British Library said the Gospels must stay in the capital, where more people can view them.

* A copy of the Gospels is to be taken on a tour of County Durham.

The high-quality colour copy will be on show in 24 schools.

It will be launched at St Johns Church, in Escomb, near Bishop Auckland, on Friday, before it begins the tour on Monday, March 1.

The tour will take in communities as far afield as Hesleden, in east Durham, to Burnopfield, in the north-west of the county, as well as Upper Teesdale and Weardale.

Each weekend next month, the copy will be put on display at Bishop Auckland Town Hall.

The tour finishes in May, when the copy goes on display at Chester-le-Street library.

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