Extremely rare medieval Arma Christi scroll discovered at York’s Bar Convent

Extremely rare medieval scroll discovered at York’s Bar Convent
The best example of an Arma Christi ever discovered

An unassuming box in the archives at York’s Bar Convent has yielded the unique discovery of an illuminated medieval scroll known as an Arma Christi, featuring the prayer poem O Vernicle. The discovery is one of the best-preserved examples ever found, and is the only one that features response texts after each verse of the poem, demonstrating that they may have been used in a different way to previously believed.

Up until now, only ten copies were known to have survived, produced in the 14th and 15th centuries, each one handmade by a number of skilled craftsmen. Very few medieval devotional items survived the Reformation in the 1540s and the outlawing of Catholicism some decades later under Elizabeth I, and the Bar Convent Arma Christi is thought to be one of the last examples ever made, dating from around 1475.

The ten known scrolls have been subject to academic and ecclesiastical scrutiny for many decades, sharing a unique insight into religious iconography and devotional practices. However, the Bar Convent Arma Christi may turn conventional thinking on its head, as the responses, written in red, demonstrate that this was scroll was likely used in communal worship as well as private prayer.

The scroll was discovered by Special Collections Manager Dr Hannah Thomas as she was cataloguing the Bar Convent’s collection. In its rolled format, the unassuming document is just six inches wide with the roll a couple of inches in diameter, but when she unfurled the scroll, she quickly realised that this was something very unusual and rare.

“This is an illuminated script, with hand-drawn figures and beautiful calligraphy – it is a medieval work of art in its own right. However, where it differs from the other examples that have been discovered is that this is not merely an illustrated poem or prayer created for private contemplation, but featuring response texts suggesting it was used by groups or families as they gathered together for prayers in the home,” explains Hannah.

As one of the only Catholic religious orders that was founded in England after the Reformation, precious objects and documents were often given to the sisters at the Bar Convent, now known as the Congregation of Jesus, for safe keeping, as practicing the Catholic faith was an act of treason against the crown from 1581 onwards. Many of these treasures have been on public display in the Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre, but fully cataloguing their archives has only started in recent years. There are no records of when this Arma Christi passed into the Order’s care.

The existence of the newly discovered scroll has been kept tightly under wraps until now, given its importance, and indeed, the full manuscript will not be revealed until it becomes the centrepiece of a major new exhibition at the Bar Covent Living Heritage Centre opening on Saturday 5 April 2025.

“We know that there will be huge excitement about this discovery, but given that it has remained hidden for over 500 years, we know that people will not mind waiting a few more weeks before we share this magnificent scroll with the world,” says Sister Ann Stafford, Superior of the Bar Covent. “We also have exciting plans for another world-first: the prayers and devotional material on the scroll will feature in a special Mass in our Chapel. We’re delighted that a representative from the Archbishop of York will be joining us, along with local dignitaries and faith representatives. We hope to livestream the service so that the world can share in its discovery.”

For more information, or to book tickets for the opening of the exhibition, please visit www.barconvent.co.uk

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Pictures show: Dr Hannah Thomas with the Bar Convent Arma Christi.

Images to accompany this release are available for immediate download here. Please credit © Bar Convent, York.

Please note that pictures of the unfurled Arma Christi will be released when the scroll goes on display in April 2025.

A video with Dr Hannah Thomas explaining how she found the scroll is available here.

The ten existing Arma Christi Vernicle rolls are held by museums and libraries around the world, including:

• Bodleian Library, Oxford University, Oxford, UK (x 2)
• British Library, London, UK (x 2)
• Scottish Catholic Archives, Edinburgh, UK
• Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe, UK
• Beinecke Library, New Haven Yale University, USA
• Huntington Library, California, USA
• Pierpont Morgan Library, New York, USA
• Redemptorist Archives of the Baltimore Province, Philadelphia, USA

This type of rolled document is correctly known as a ‘roll’ rather than ‘scroll’.

For further media information, please contact:
Jay Commins
Pyper York
Tel: 01904 500698
Mob: 07810 546567
Email: jay@pyperyork.co.uk