Lambeth Palace Library is the historic library and record office of the Archbishops of Canterbury and the principal repository of the documentary history of the Church of England. Its collections have been freely available for research since 1610.
The records held here date from the 9th century to the present day, and their broad scope reflects the office of Archbishop as head of the Province of Canterbury, his national and international roles in leading the Church of England and the Anglican Communion worldwide, and the wealth and power of Archbishops in past centuries which enabled them to collect books and manuscripts of the highest quality and significance.
James I described the Library as ‘a monument of fame' in his kingdom. Peter the Great, who visited in 1698, is recorded as saying that nothing in England astonished him as much as Lambeth Palace Library; he had never thought there were so many books in all the world.
In 1996 Lambeth Palace Library took into its care all the early collections of Sion College, the historic library of the City of London clergy, which comprise manuscripts, pre-1850 printed books, and pamphlets. Its collection complements that of Lambeth with a key focus on the Church, but a rich diversity of other subject material.
The Library will be closed from Monday 13th-Friday 17th September 2010 inclusive, to allow for preparations for the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Lambeth Palace.
Access to the Library's collections is freely available to the public and appointments are not necessary.
However, on their first visit users must obtain a reader's ticket which is valid for five years. In order to be issued with a ticket, readers should bring the following:
It is a condition of access that all readers observe the rules of the Library (attached right).
[NB Members of staff of the National Church Institutions should bring their staff pass, which will be valid for all classes of material with the exception of restricted material such as illuminated manuscripts].
The Library is situated on London's Lambeth Palace Road, near Lambeth Bridge, on the south side of the River Thames. A map is attached to this page (below right).
The entrance is approximately 100 yards from the main gate of the Palace and is clearly marked with a brass plate and bell. Please ring once only for admittance, and be patient whilst someone comes to open the door.
The nearest Underground stations are Westminster, Vauxhall, Lambeth North and Waterloo.
Bus routes stopping outside the Palace include number 507 which runs between Victoria and Waterloo stations.
A small bindery, housed in Morton's Tower was established in the 1950s. It was set up to repair books damaged by bombing during the Blitz of 1941, when the Great Hall received a direct hit. With that work completed in the 1990s, the bindery was refitted to archival standards to become a dedicated conservation studio, where trained conservators carry out work on all aspects of our collections, such as binding conservation, the cleaning and repair of archives, manuscripts and printed books and prints.
**E1440.P2 The Whole Psalter Translated into English Metre. Printed by John Daye 1567. Translated by Archbishop Matthew Parker, bound for Archbishop Parker & given by Margaret Parker to the Countess of Shrewsbury (Bess of Hardwick). 195 x 142mm
Click on the image (right) to enlarge.
This fine volume, bound by Parker's own binder has recently been conserved in the Library's conservation studio. Both boards were almost loose of the text block. The pages were cleaned, the spine rebacked in archival calf and the original spine repositioned on top of the new. The corners were repaired with toned Japanese paper. The inner joints strengthened with aero linen and marbled Japanese paper.
The Church of England Record Centre is a further archives and records repository of central church bodies alongside Lambeth Palace Library.
It also provides records management advice to the wider church, primarily through a range of guides to Parish, Diocesan, and Episcopal record keeping. These guides can be downloaded by following the link at the bottom of this page.
The Record Centre holds the archives of a variety of historical central Church of England bodies that document the evolving organisation and activities of the Church of England since 1704.
These archives include information on management of church properties; creation and construction of new churches and parsonage houses; financial assistance to poor clergy; church legislative bodies since 1919.
These archival records, including files and deeds, can be made available for public viewing at Lambeth Palace Library between 10am and 5pm Monday to Friday. Anyone wishing to consult the records will be required to give 5 days notice of their visit to the Library and will need to obtain a readers' ticket and abide by Library rules. The records will be delivered to the Library and will be retained there for 20 working days. No appointment will be needed once the documents have been requested from CERC.
Email: archivist@c-of-e.org.uk [1]
The Library houses books and other material dedicated solely to ecclesiastical architecture, art, design and liturgy and is a unique research tool for readers interested in those areas. As well as over 13,000 books, the collection includes detailed files on 16,000 parish churches, many containing guidebooks, postcards and photographs; copies of the records of the contents of over 1,500 individual churches compiled by the NADFAS Church Recorders; and extensive photographic collections.
It is a shared resource of the Church Buildings Council and the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England, but the collection is usually open to the public by appointment on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and enquiries are welcomed.
As yet there is no online catalogue to the collection and therefore all enquiries should be directed to the Honorary Librarian.
The Library currently has vacancies for volunteers to assist with the 2010 public exhibition 'Treasures of Lambeth Palace Library'. For further information and a full job description click on the links to the right.
The Library has a vacancy for a Library Assistant/Graduate Trainee, on a one year fixed term contract, starting in September 2010. The post is suitable for those seeking experience before undertaking a postgraduate course in library and information studies. To apply, please visit www.prospect-us.co.uk/jobs [3] or call 0844 880 5154 quoting ref: C2216-211-1 (closing date 25th June 2010, interviews 14th July 2010).
We are pleased to answer routine enquiries and aim to send a response within 10 working days. Our contact details are:
Tel: +44 (0)20 7898 1400
Fax: +44 (0)20 7928 7932
E-mail: lpl.staff@c-of-e.org.uk
[4]Post: The Librarian, Lambeth Palace Library, London, SE1 7JU, UK.
Friends of Lambeth Palace Library: +44 (0)20 7898 1263
Conservation Department: +44 (0)20 7898 1288
Accounts queries: +44 (0)20 7898 1263
Lambeth Palace switchboard: +44 (0)20 7898 1200
If your enquiry requires detailed research, we may advise you to visit the Library, or suggest that you employ a researcher. The Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives [5], the Federation of Family History Societies [6], or the National Archives [7] may be able to assist in providing contact details for record agents and other freelance researchers. The Library is unable to recommend individuals.
Links:
[1] mailto:archivist@c-of-e.org.uk
[2] mailto:enquiries.ccb@c-of-e.org.uk
[3] http://www.prospect-us.co.uk/jobs
[4] mailto:lpl.staff@c-of-e.org.uk
[5] http://www.agra.org.uk/
[6] http://www.ffhs.org.uk/
[7] http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/irlist