On Wednesday 12 February 2025, Mr John Malcomson of Sheffield presented a special Bible to the Very Revd Jonathan Brewster, Dean of Carlisle, in the Fratry Hall of Carlisle Cathedral.
The Bible originally belonged to Henry Venn Stuart, who was Dean of Carlisle from 1924-1933. It is dated 15 September 1864, which suggests it was given to him shortly after his birth on 8 August 1864. He passed it down to his younger daughter, Madeline Malcomson (nee Stuart), who in turn gifted it to her son, John Malcomson, who used it as his school bible.
The bible has been rebound but retains the original leather spine binding and original gilt clasp with initials ‘HVS’.
Mr Malcomson has generously donated the Bible to the Cathedral Library and visited Carlisle last week to formally present the gift.
Upon his visit, Mr Malcomson said “I am very pleased that Carlisle Cathedral has accepted my gift of the Bible given on his birth to my grandfather, Henry Venn Stuart, who was Dean of Carlisle from 1924 until his death in 1933.”
The Revd Canon Dr Benajmin Carter, Canon Warden and Canon Librarian at Carlisle Cathedral, added “We are very grateful to Mr Malcomson for his very kind and thoughtful gesture, and we look forward to adding the Bible to our Cathedral Library, housed in the 14th Century Fratry Hall. The books of former Canons and Deans is a unifying theme of the Cathedral’s collections, so this is a very fitting addition.”
The library at Carlisle is a remarkable collection of over 8,000 volumes. The collection comprises books bequeathed by two principal donors: Henry Hutton, a Canon of the Cathedral during the late 17th century; and Thomas Smith, who was a Bishop of Carlisle, and a truly great scholar. The oldest books in the collection include a 15th century Bible and an early copy of the Koran.
