Sherbrooke Missal

This beautiful Missal made from parchment dates back to c. 1310 - c. 1320 and originates from East Anglia. It is considered a very important manuscript as it is one of the earliest examples of a Missal of an English source.

Sarum Missals were books produced by the Church during the Middle Ages for celebrating Mass throughout the year. According to William Marx it is thought that the Sherbrooke Missal is one of the earliest examples of a Missal of an English source, as there are only two others which pre-date this manuscript. This manuscript differs from other Missals of the same period as it includes many images which represent the text. The manuscript has attracted a lot of attention recently as its decoration and the style of its pictures and figures are very similar to the ones found in the Queen Mary Psalter manuscript which is now held in The British Library. Just like the Queen Mary Psalter, the Sherbrooke Missal is exceptional due to the vast and unusual amount of colourful and beautiful miniatures which can be found in the manuscript.

This manuscript belonged to the library of the Sherbrooke family in Oxton, Nottinghamshire from the 16th century through to the 19th century, and it is from here that its name derives.