John Richard Allison Library
Library

Word and Image: Celebrating 5 Years of The Saint John’s Bible at Regent College

All are invited to a complementary half-day symposium and a special exhibition of this seven-volume illuminated Bible.
Segment of Word Made Flesh, an illumination from The Saint John's Bible
Detail from Word Made Flesh, Donald Jackson, Copyright 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Please join us on Friday, November 13, for a half-day event celebrating the fifth anniversary of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition at Regent College. This event features a special exhibition of the seven-volume Heritage Edition and talks by leading scholars who will help us unpack the historical and theological importance of The Saint John’s Bible, the first handwritten illuminated Bible commissioned by a Benedictine monastery in over 500 years. This event is free, and all are welcome.

To learn more about The Saint John's Bible Heritage Edition, which was generously donated to Regent College by Julie Hindmarsh in honour of Dr. James M. Houston, please visit the John Richard Allison Library website.

Program

Afternoon, 1–5 pm

From Inspiration to Illumination: An Introduction to The Saint John’s Bible
Tim Ternes

Through video, reproductions, and rich visual images, participants will be introduced to The Saint John’s Bible. Guests will learn about the processes, tools, methods, and materials behind the making of The Saint John’s Bible, and will explore several artworks through engaging and thought-provoking guided imagery discussions.

Reception

Tea and refreshments will be served.

The Material Culture of Medieval Books and Patterns of Devotional Reading
Bruce Hindmarsh

Additional details forthcoming.

Visual Theology in Manuscript Illumination
Jonathan Anderson

In the long Christian traditions of manuscript illumination, images are used not simply to illustrate or ornament scriptural texts but to conduct constructive visual-theological commentary and contemplation about these texts. In this lecture, Jonathan Anderson will explore The Saint John’s Bible in dialogue with longer traditions of Christian visual theology in illuminated manuscripts.

Evening, 7–9 pm

Word and Image: The Saint John’s Bible
Tim Ternes

This is an opportunity to further explore the art of The Saint John’s Bible and get a peek into the theological and artistic process behind several illuminations. Join Tim Ternes as he leads participants in discussing specific scripture passages and their accompanying artworks in The Saint John’s Bible. Through questioning, guided observations, and group discussions, guests will have their spiritual imaginations stretched as they collectively unpack the creative process of seeing the Word. Guests will gain new insights and connections between passages and fellow participants.

Special Exhibition

A special exhibition of the Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible and other rare books will be available for viewing before and after each of the day’s sessions.

Information for Attendees

Location: John Richard Allison Library, Regent College (5800 University Blvd, Vancouver)

Parking: Regent College does not have its own parking lot. Paid parking options are available nearby with metered parking on Western Parkway, among other locations, and covered pay parking at the Thunderbird Parkade. See parking.ubc.ca for more info.
 

The Saint John's Bible (vol. 6, Gospels & Acts) on display in the Regent College atrium.
Volume 7, Gospels and Acts, open to the beginning of John's Gospel in the Regent College Atrium. The image below appears on the left-hand page of this spread. File photo.

 

An illumination from The Saint Johns Bible
Word Made Flesh, Donald Jackson, Copyright 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

Host & Speakers

Cindy Aalders

Cindy Aalders

Library Director; Associate Professor of the History of Christianity

Dr. Cindy Aalders is Director of the John Richard Allison Library and Associate Professor of the History of Christianity. She completed her doctoral studies at the University of Oxford, where her research focused on the spiritual lives and manuscript cultures of eighteenth-century British women.

Tim Ternes

Tim Ternes

Curator

Tim Ternes is the Curator of The Saint John’s Bible at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. He began as director of the project and worked closely with the artistic and theological teams during the creation of the Bible serving as facilitator between artist and commissioner. He now manages exhibitions, programming, and caring for the original bifolia of the manuscript.

Jonathan Anderson

Jonathan Anderson

Eugene and Jan Peterson Associate Professor of Theology and the Arts

Jonathan A. Anderson leads the Christianity and the Arts concentration at Regent College. His scholarship explores the interrelations of art history, theology, and religious studies, with a particular focus on modern and contemporary art.

Bruce Hindmarsh

Bruce Hindmarsh

James M. Houston Professor of Spiritual Theology; Professor of the History of Christianity

Bruce Hindmarsh took his DPhil degree in theology at Oxford University in 1993. From 1995 to 1997, he was a Research Fellow at Christ Church, Oxford. Since then, Bruce has published and spoken widely to international audiences on the history of early British evangelicalism.

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