The installation of Archbishop Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury on March 25, 2026, will feature a historic departure from tradition. For the first time since 1945, the oath will be sworn on a modern Bible rather than the ancient Augustine Gospels, which have been used for nearly 60 years.
The fragile 6th-century Augustine Gospels, believed to be a relic of St. Augustine, are not easily moved from their home at Corpus Christi College in Cambridge. To honor the occasion of installing the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral has chosen to use its Heritage Edition of The Saint John's Bible, described as a Bible "for the 21st century."
This marks a significant symbolic shift in the Church of England's public ceremonies. The Saint John's Bible is the first hand-scribed, illuminated manuscript commissioned by a Benedictine monastery since the invention of the printing press more than 500 years ago. Created by artistic director Donald Jackson, former senior scribe to Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II's Crown Office at the House of Lords, the Bible blends ancient tradition with modern themes.
During the installation service, the Bible will be open to the beginning of Luke 1 on the Nave altar. Archbishop Mullally will lay her hand on it as she takes her oath of office, beginning her public ministry in the Church of England and worldwide Anglican Communion.
Canterbury Cathedral blessed and dedicated its Heritage Edition on November 11, 2023. This facsimile edition is one of only 299 in the world, made possible through the generosity of Elaine and Bruce Culver. The Cathedral adorned this edition with a special bookmark crafted by retired physician and cathedral stitcher Dr. Alyson Osterloh in March 2024, using textiles found in the Cathedral Sewing Room.
An Apostles Edition of The Saint John's Bible, of which only 12 exist, was also gifted to Lambeth Palace on November 8, 2023. It now resides in the Lambeth Palace Library and is available for public viewing. The original manuscript consists of 1,150 pages created in seven distinct volumes and resides at the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library on the Saint John's University campus.
The Church of England will livestream the installation service on March 25, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. ET. This change in ceremonial Bible use represents more than practical necessity—it symbolizes the Anglican Communion's ongoing dialogue between tradition and modernity, particularly as it welcomes its first female Archbishop of Canterbury.
