The Benedictional of St ÆThelwold

This tenth-century Winchester service book, written for Aethelwold, bishop of Winchester, collects the Latin blessings a bishop recited at Mass through the church year, from Christmas and Easter to saints' days and the dedication of a church. A dedicatory poem names the scribe Godeman. The text is liturgical rather than narrative: each benediction asks protection, fruitfulness, or pardon for the congregation at a given feast. Full-page illuminations of apostles, virgins, and the life of Christ frame the prayers. The work is a bishop's book of blessings from the Benedictine reform, not a chronicle of Aethelwold's life and not a missal for daily parish use.

Bound in dark brown goatskin with 4 raised bands and blocked with calligraphic title in gold on cover and spine, all page edges gilt, ribbon marker. Commentary volume by Andrew Prescott, quarter bound in buckram with paper sides and title label. Red buckram clamshell.