A Contribution to the Library

John Dunthorne of Dunthorne Parker, Architects and Designers, has just deposited with us a most curious relic - a book found in 1986 in the roof space of the Golden Cross in the Cornmarket. They wanted it to be preserved in Oxford, in a Catholic library, and have chosen us as the favoured location. Once we have our new Library it can be displayed and made accessible to scholars, fragile though it is.

The book is an early version of "A sinner's guide to confession", called Brevis Institutio de Salutari Poenitentia Peccatoris, by a French Benedictine, Claude de Viexmont, printed in Antwerp in 1586. Although the Bodleian has copies of an earlier edition (Paris, 1533) and a later edition (Antwerp 1595), there is no other copy of this edition in England.



It has many notes, underlinings and cross-references added in an English secretary hand, probably late 16th or early 17th century, and an owner's name, Ro[bert] Russell, written in an italic hand. This may have been the curate of St Thomas' parish in 1583-1616.

The peculiar interest is that the book was hidden. Since some pages of a 1623 edition of Ovid were found with it, the hiding must have been after that, perhaps during the Seige. Unfortunately in the ensuing four hundred years some creatures have been nibbling it, either insects or mice, and the last 100 pages are badly chewed up. Still, the binding is complete, with its green ribbon ties.

More research is needed, and a proper catalogue entry copiled, but we are excited to have this great rarity as an addition to our collections.

Unveiled

The new shrine shines out. Painting by William Ouless, aedicule and altarino by Timothy Newbery, achievement of arms by Tom Meek. It will be blessed in due course by Archbishop Bernard Longley, on Tuesday evening, 21 September, at the 6:00 Mass.

Behind the Veil

There is to be no peeking before Christmas, but hidden behind a veil is the new Newman shrine. Well, actually it will be unveiled on Tuesday 21st, when His Grace the Archbishop comes to preside at the 6:00 evening Mass, and lead us in the Te Deum.

Much will be happening before that, and prayers are much in evidence. So far most comments have been positive, and great things are expected.

The same applies to our planning application. No objections have been lodged with the City Council, and the press coverage has been most encouraging. But we still won't know until 12 October.

planning application chugging along

The City Fathers have acknowledged receipt of our final planning application for the new buildings, and tell us we should know the result by 12 October. We will let you know! The Oxford Times gave us a very good write-up when we had our Press Conference in July, and are promising another story tomorrow - it is good that the local Oxford papers are supportive and helpful, as they were so noticeably last year when St Therese came to visit.

In the meantime the fund raising campaign chugs along. Now that holidays are over and people are back to normal (well almost), we expect to see more of you attending our Information Functions, and, most importantly, introducing us to your influential contacts.

No picture seems particularly relevant this week so here's an Elephant and an Elephant's Child.