A panel of experts will be leading an online symposium exploring The Hereford Gospels this June, the first fully online conference hosted by Hereford Cathedral.

The Hereford Gospels Symposium will take place online on Friday 26 June from 10am – 4pm. Organised by the library and archive team at Hereford Cathedral, the day of learning will be introduced by The Rt Revd Dr David Thomson and feature six guest speakers presenting a range of papers which cover multiple aspects of the cathedral’s oldest manuscript. The symposium coincides with Shaping Early Medieval Faith: The Hereford Gospels, the cathedral’s latest exhibition in the Mappa Mundi & Chained Library Museum.

The programme for the day includes:

• A Calligrapher’s Journey around the Hereford Gospels, its Scribe and his Script by Pete Furniss
• From the Hereford Gospels to the Hereford Psalter by Drs Richard Gameson & Andy Beeby
• Now That We Have Multispectral Images: A Journey into Digital Recovery by Bill Endres
• The Trial of the Widow: Anglo-Saxon Law in the Hereford Gospels by Peter McIntosh
• ‘The Anglo-Saxon copy of the Gospels was lent for one week’ by Elizabeth Semper O’Keefe

Jennifer Dumbelton, Cathedral Librarian, said: “As the cathedral’s oldest item, the Hereford Gospels is full of amazing stories. It will be amazing to see how each of our speakers unpacks what we can learn from studying this 1200 year old manuscript, and how it continues to be relevant today.”

At the end of the symposium, information will be shared about plans for making the full text of the Hereford Gospels available to researchers online.

The Hereford Gospels Online Symposium is free to attend but advanced booking is essential via the cathedral ticket desk (01432 374 202) or by clicking here. All sessions will be recorded (excluding questions) and sent to those who book onto the symposium, allowing access for those who are unable to attend in real time.