People, Pilgrimage, and Pomp
By The Rev. Dr. John F. Ross, Executive Director of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program. A reflection on the Heritage Edition’s new homes at Durham Cathedral, St Davids Cathedral, and Windsor Castle, September 9-13, 2024.
As is only possible when looking back on an experience, I can say with great confidence that this latest adventure with The Saint John’s Bible was even more intriguing and meaningful than I expected and my expectations were very high.
But first, a bit of context is needed.
This tour was the most recent chapter in a saga that began more than two-and-a-half years ago. In February of 2022, not long into my role with the Heritage Program, I noticed that there was only one Heritage Edition in all of England and none in Wales, the homeland of Artistic Director, Donald Jackson, and the creative birthplace of The Saint John’s Bible. That didn’t seem right.
Thus, a ”Dream Team” of strategists was assembled to begin imagining how we could place yet another Heritage Edition somewhere in this part of the world where illuminated manuscripts are so revered. Among the team members were Rob Culligan (Saint John’s University Vice President of Institutional Advancement), Dan Whalen (former SJU President), The Rt. Rev. Nicholas Holtam (former Bishop of Salisbury), Donald Jackson, Artistic Director (MVO), and myself.
The initial hope was to find funding and a location for one new Heritage Edition anywhere in the United Kingdom. But, in the second week of September 2024, we dedicated the fourth, fifth, and sixth sets to historic and significant institutions across the U.K. All of these new placements were funded through the remarkable generosity of Elaine & Bruce Culver and the Catharine Elizabeth Laney Trust.
Our first multi-stop tour happened in November of 2023, the “25th Anniversary Dedication Tour”. The itinerary was complex and more than 50 travelers joined the pilgrimage, all of whom have been enthusiastic supporters of the Heritage Program. Our stops included Sarum College (Salisbury Close), Canterbury Cathedral, and Lambeth Palace/Library (an Apostles Edition dedicated to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth).
This year, the itinerary was more geographically complicated, and our group was significantly smaller and filled with veterans of the Heritage Program. Our team of 11 travelled from Durham Cathedral in the northeast of England, to St Davids Cathedral in the far west of Wales, and concluded at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Durham Cathedral: People
“Follow me, my dears…” spoken with an endearing British accent, our tour guide Maureen ushered us throughout the hallowed halls of the cathedral. The entire tour was spent learning about the people that make the place so historically significant. Saints like Cuthbert, Bede, and Oswald all hold a special place in the narrative of this busy cathedral, the most visited in England.
Durham is a fascinating city and home to Durham University. More than 25 colleges make up the totality of the university with more than 20,000 students more than all the residents of Durham. The River Wear creates a peninsula-shaped piece of elevated land, which provided a perfect location for a fortified castle constructed by the Normans nearly 1,000 years ago.
Just as the Bible is the story of God’s people, so a place like Durham Cathedral contains the story of God’s people. At each stop along the way, Maureen closed our time with a prayer from the words of that person, allowing their voices and story to echo across more than 1,000 years.
St Davids Cathedral: Pilgrimage
“A walk is good for the body; a pilgrimage is good for the soul.” These were the first words spoken by Canon Sheridan James, one of several remarkable hosts at St Davids near the western shore of Pembrokeshire, Wales. She led us through the ruins of St. Non, along the Cliffs of St. Non, and up the cobblestone road to the cathedral. At the end of our mini-pilgrimage, Canon Sheridan reminded us that the whole point of pilgrimage is “to go home, changed.”
St Davids welcomes pilgrims from around the world. As many as 250,000 per year make their way to this very out-of-the-way place, and it’s worth the trip. The cathedral is part of the Church of Wales, and they have great plans for sharing their seven volumes of the Heritage Edition generously across the whole of their diocese.
This is a special location in another way: it’s the only Heritage Edition in Wales, home of Donald and Mabel Jackson to whom this particular set is dedicated. In the middle of a photoshoot while we had the entire group together, Rob Culligan offered profound thanks to Donald and Mabel, and then read the dedication page for all to hear. To be sure, the dedication page is an exquisite piece of art in its own right, created by The Saint John’s Bible artist Suzanne Moore.
In a very meaningful exchange with benefactors Elaine and Bruce Culver, the Bishop of St Davids, The Right Reverend Dorrien Davies said, “Bruce and Elaine, I can’t thank you enough. This is a treasure. We will cherish it always, and we will treasure you as well…always.”
Windsor Castle: Pomp
Don’t confuse “pomp” with “pompous.” There was not an ounce of arrogance or conceit among our hosts at the most prominent castle in the United Kingdom: Windsor. The pomp we experienced is best defined as “ceremonial elegance and splendor.”
From the Royal Library where we were hosted by the Royal Librarian, Stella Panayotova, to St. George’s Chapel where members of our group were honored to process all seven volumes of the Heritage Edition into an Evensong service for a ceremonial blessing by the Dean of Windsor, The Right Reverend Christopher Cocksworth.
After a presentation of the dedication page created by Donald Jackson for Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, we enjoyed a time of unprecedented access to the treasures within the Royal Library. It’s remarkably fitting that a Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible will reside for eternity within the walls of Windsor Castle.
Evensong in St. George’s Chapel was an apropos final experience of this tour de force. It was profoundly humbling to look upon the graves of amazing people such as Queen Elizabeth II while standing on the same stones where weddings and funerals had taken place and were viewed by hundreds of millions of people around the world. It is the Dean’s full intention to bring out the Heritage Edition for important occasions and whenever the King is in residence.
‘Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd’ (Welsh proverb)
St David is quoted as saying: “Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things.” It’s a fitting encouragement with which to close this reflection. You see, The Saint John’s Bible might be among the greatest artistic endeavors of our age. It’s 1,150 pages and 160 illuminations that have found their way into some of the most famous and revered houses of worship, universities, libraries, and museums in the world. But when you boil it all down to what it took to create this masterpiece, you’ll find 3.5 million letters. 3.5 million “little things” all done with joy and faith. Amen.