On Tuesday 12 December, at an event in the cathedral’s Deanery, seven volunteers who have each offered over 20 years of service were entered into the book as a thank you for their dedication.
Quote from Volunteer guide and welcome steward Ronald Rickaby, who has been volunteering at Durham Cathedral since 2003
Durham Cathedral is a place that has always been there for me, I've been coming to the cathedral for over 70 years. It's a wonderful place. It's a honour to be recorded in the Liber Vitae, and I'm excited to see it today.
Volunteer guide and welcome steward Ronald Rickaby, who has been volunteering at Durham Cathedral since 2003
Alongside the names of volunteers, also added are the names of the cathedral’s major benefactors, which include individuals, trusts and companies who have gifted more than £10,000 in the last five years.
Matthew Mills, Head of Development at Durham Cathedral says,
"Durham Cathedral’s contemporary Liber Vitae (‘Book of Life’), dating to 2007, contains the names of individuals and organisations whose contributions to our life and work are exceptional. We honour volunteers whose service exceeds 20 years and major donors who give more than £10,000."
He continues,
"As a record of our common life, the Liber Vitae celebrates the diversity of our community. In a special sense, too, the names inscribed each year stand for everyone who, in whatever way, cherishes Durham’s unique witness to the Christian faith and the inspiration it offers for seeking new paths of creativity and care."
Each of the volunteers and donors' names were inscribed by specialist calligrapher Tim Sokell. An inscription in the front of the Liber Vitae states:
“The Chapter commissioned this volume with the intention of recording each year the significant gifts and voluntary service without which the Cathedral could not continue to flourish.”
The tradition of the Liber Vitae goes back many centuries; the original manuscript was started in the ninth century, possibly on Lindisfarne, and listed the names of kings, dukes, queens and abbesses. It is thought that the purpose was to remember the living and the dead in church, including in some solemn ceremonies when the book would be processed to the high altar.
In 1100 the monks revived the use of the Liber Vitae and the names of bishops of Durham, the first priors of Durham Cathedral Priory and Durham monks were included.
This year the Liber Vitae event coincided with the annual Staff and Volunteer Christmas Carol Service, where the Liber Vitae names were celebrated and carols were joyfully sung.
