12 October 2011

SCHOOL CHILDREN from across the county have created a set of illustrated ‘Oxfordshire Gospels’ in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.

Following in a long tradition of illuminated manuscripts, dating back to the monastic scribes of late antiquity, children from 84 schools have written out individual chapters of the four Gospels in their best handwriting, and decorated them. Some of the illustrations reflect the local environment – such as the Cowley car works or the countryside – whereas others draw upon the creative imagination of their artists.

Described by the Church Times as “a 21st century rival to their more famous counterparts in Lindisfarne”, the completed Gospels will be presented formally to Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford at a special day for schools on 14 October 2011. On the day, children from the participating schools have been invited to join in a range of workshops involving drama, music, storytelling and art, all based around the theme of the King James Bible.

The afternoon ends in a special service of celebration when the four Gospels will be carried through the Cathedral, by children dressed in a colour according to whether they illustrated chapters from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. At the end of the day, the children will all take a commemorative bookmark home with them to remind them of the project.

The project is the brainchild of the Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher, working in partnership with Oxfordshire publisher BRF.

Bishop Colin said: “The Oxfordshire Gospels are a great way of marking this important anniversary. It’s a wonderful thought that these children have created something lasting, that will be there for generations to come, and part of the ongoing story of the King James Bible which has such a powerful place in our cultural life. I’ve been delighted by the enthusiasm of our church schools to get involved, and really impressed by the high quality of the work the children have produced. The day promises to be an enjoyable way of discovering more about the Bible and coming together to celebrate the whole venture.”

Richard Fisher, Chief Executive of BRF, said: “BRF is delighted to be supporting the Oxfordshire Gospels project. The 400th anniversary of the King James Bible has given our Barnabas in Schools team a tremendous opportunity. During the last two terms we’ve worked with primary schools throughout the country, exploring the theme ‘What’s so special about the Bible?’ through drama, mime, storytelling and games. The children taking part in the special day at Christ Church Cathedral in October will have a taste of how our team brings the Bible to life. I know they’ll have a great time!”

Notes for editors

• Pictures of the Gospels and the commemorative bookmark are available
• Filming on the day will be possible by advance arrangement only.
• To find out more phone Jo Duckles on 208227.