Lambeth Palace Library

03/09/2026

For this month’s theme, , we are sharing this folio from a 15th-century Book of Hours that once belonged to Richard III.

If you look closely, you can see that Richard's name has been erased.

The entire manuscript has been digitised and can be viewed here:

https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/s/0w91a9

[MS 474, fol. 182r]

02/09/2026

For our most recent blog post, Kwesi Ochosi, Project Co-ordinator, explores the life of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, the first African Anglican bishop.

Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther is pictured here.

Read the blog to discover more:
https://monumentoffame.org/

[H5700 C7 [P2], p291]

02/09/2026

Truth-telling in the archives: Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther and the work of Repair

By Kwesi Ochosi, Project Spire Coordinator: Archives “Those who opposed him were caught up in their own world. British society of the nineteenth century was overwhelmingly racist, deeply hierarchical... The idea that an African was their equal was literally, unimaginable... They lived in an age of certainty in their own superiority. In their eyes not only the gospel, but even the Empire would be at risk if they conceded...”...

By Kwesi Ochosi, Project Spire Coordinator: Archives “Those who opposed him were caught up in their own world. British society of the nineteenth century was overwhelmingly racist, deeply hierarchic…

02/09/2026

The Great Fire of London started in 1666.

This is the title page of a sermon preached soon after the Fire by William Sancroft, then Dean of St Paul’s (and later Archbishop of Canterbury), with an engraving of St. Paul's Cathedral in flames by W. Hollar.

[H5133 920.08]

01/09/2026

It's September!

This figure illustrates September in a 16th century martyrology, the time to tread your grapes!

[MS 20 fol. 56]

31/08/2026

REMINDER:

Join us for 'Church Ships and Floating Chapels: Missions to Seamen in the Age of Sail', featuring an exhibition viewing, drinks reception, and a talk by Professor Hilary Carey and Dr Catherine Phipps exploring mariners and Church of England missions in the 19th century.

This event is free and open to all.

Book via the link below:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/church-shi...

The event will take place from 5-7 pm on Wednesday 2 September

30/08/2026

August 30th -

📚Book your Reading Room slot for 5th September via our website now! 📖

https://www.lambethpalacelibrary.info/using-the-library/registering-and-booking/

✨Our exhibition, Mariners: Religion, Race and Empire, is open as usual - free of charge and no booking required! ✨

29/08/2026

We are busy booking Reading Room slots for the upcoming cooler months!

You can reserve a space by following this link: https://www.lambethpalacelibrary.info/using-the-library/registering-and-booking/

This illumination shows St. Jerome, also busy at work, from a 15th century Book of Hours.

[MS455f132v]

28/08/2026

Today is the Feast Day of Augustine of Hippo.

This 19th-century etching, from The Graphic, depicts a number of saints in Bristol Cathedral.

Augustine of Hippo is traditionally shown holding a heart, as he is here.

[CFCE/CATH/5/F/91]

27/08/2026

Today is World Lake Day!

Here is a photograph of a lake in Switzerland, taken between 1850-60, by Richard Keene.

[MS3607, 30]