On March 25, 2026, Archbishop Sarah Mullally will be installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, making history as the first woman to hold the position. In a significant departure from tradition, the oath of office will be sworn on The Saint John's Bible Heritage Edition, a modern illuminated manuscript, rather than the 6th-century Augustine Gospels used for nearly 60 years. This change reflects both the fragility of the ancient relic and the symbolic importance of using a Bible described as "for the 21st century."
The Augustine Gospels, housed at Corpus Christi College in Cambridge, are considered too fragile to move. Canterbury Cathedral instead chose The Saint John's Bible, the first hand-scribed and illuminated manuscript commissioned by a Benedictine Monastery since the invention of the printing press. Created by artistic director Donald Jackson, former senior scribe to Queen Elizabeth II, the Bible blends ancient artistry with contemporary themes. During the installation, the Bible will be open to Luke 1 on the Nave altar, and the Archbishop will place her hand on it while taking her oath.
The Heritage Edition used in the ceremony is one of only 299 facsimiles in the world. It was blessed and dedicated at Canterbury Cathedral on November 11, 2023, thanks to a gift from Elaine and Bruce Culver. A special bookmark, crafted by retired physician and cathedral stitcher Dr. Alyson Osterloh from textiles found in the Cathedral Sewing Room, adorns the volume. Additionally, an Apostles Edition—one of just 12 in existence—was gifted to Lambeth Palace on November 8, 2023, and is now on public display at the Lambeth Palace Library.
The original manuscript of The Saint John's Bible, consisting of 1,150 pages in seven volumes, resides at the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library at Saint John's University. The Heritage and Apostles Editions are fine art reproductions directed by Donald Jackson, taking roughly eight years to produce. More information can be found at saintjohnsbible.org.
The Church of England will livestream the service on March 25, 2026, at 10:30 am ET. This installation not only marks a milestone for gender equality in the Church but also signals a renewed embrace of modern expressions of faith while honoring ancient traditions.
