A medieval illuminated manuscript, the Arma Christi scroll, is set to be unveiled at the Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre in York, England, in a public exhibition opening on 5 April 2025. The parchment, believed to have been prepared around 1475, will serve as the centerpiece of the exhibition. The event marks an important moment for the convent, which has been a custodian of religious artifacts since its founding in 1686.
The scroll's discovery was made by Dr. Hannah Thomas while cataloguing the convent's collection—a project that has only recently begun despite some artifacts being previously displayed. Hidden inside a shoebox containing brochures from the 1980s, the manuscript initially appeared as a small document. However, once unfurled, it revealed details of calligraphy and hand-drawn figures. "With hand-drawn figures and beautiful calligraphy, it's a medieval work of art in its own right," Dr. Thomas said, according to BBC News.
The Arma Christi scroll is one of only 11 known copies worldwide and may be among the last of its kind. Such devotional items were rare even in their own time and became even scarcer following the Reformation and the outlawing of Catholicism under Elizabeth I. These scrolls were produced between the 12th and 17th centuries by skilled craftsmen, and all known copies date from the 14th and 15th centuries.
The Bar Convent scroll differs from other versions due to the the inclusion of response texts after each verse of the prayer poem 'O Vernicle.'
"The responses, written in red, suggest it was used by groups or families as they gathered together for prayers in the home," the special collections manager at Bar Convent said, according to BBC News.
Bar Convent, England's oldest surviving Catholic convent, has long been a guardian of religious artifacts, many of which were entrusted to the sisters during centuries of persecution. The convent has no record of when the Arma Christi manuscript was included in their collections. "This discovery has remained hidden for over 500 years, so we know people won't mind waiting a little longer to see it," said Sister Ann Stafford, Superior of the Bar Convent.
In addition to the exhibition, a Mass incorporating prayers from the scroll will be held. "We're delighted that presiding at the service will be the Bishop of Middlesbrough and the Archbishop of York," Stafford stated. The service will also be attended by representatives from the Archbishop of York's office, local dignitaries, and faith leaders. "We plan to livestream the service so that the world can share in its discovery," she added.
Dr. Thomas described the Arma Christi manuscript as "one of the best-preserved examples ever found," noting its condition and historical importance.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.