Rivers of Ink -tour in the North East of England

We are looking forward to increase the awareness of the birth place for the world's oldest bible being the North-East of England. In the 8th century, the monks from Jarrow in Weardale, produced a single copy bible as a gift to Rome. In collaboration with The Projection Studio's skilful artistry we are showing Codex Amiatinus to the people of North East during February 2026.

TOUR DATES

St Laurence's church, High Pittington, 1 Hallgarth Lane, Durham, DH6 1DA

Wed 11 Feb

2-7pm Light and sound projection show ongoing

6 pm Public event with a talk from Francis Watson on "Cuthbert, Bede, and Two Great Northumbrian Books"

Church of St Mary the Virgin, Holy Island, Berwick-upon-Tweed TD15 2RX (Check the safe crossing from the Northumberland County Council's Tide timetable.) Printable poster here: RoI Poster for Holy Island.

Fri 13th Feb

9am - 3pm Light and sound projection show ongoing

Sat 14th Feb

9am - 3pm Light and sound projection show ongoing

4.00pm Public event with talks from Lauren Randall, Francis Watson on “Cuthbert, Bede, and Two Great Northumbrian Books” and David Petts on "What can archaeology tell us about early medieval Lindisfarne?" 

Blackfriars Restaurant, Friars Street, Newcastle NE1 4XN (Pre-booking necessary! Blackfriars Restaurant reservations team is handling the bookings. To secure booking, please visit www.blackfriarsrestaurant.co.uk and put ‘RIVERS OF INK’ in your booking note. Alternatively, email us at info@blackfriarsrestaurant.co.uk together with any dietary requirements.) Printable poster here:  RoI Poster for Blackfriars.

Mon 16th Feb 

6pm-7.30pm Light and sound projection show ongoing  

7.30pm Francis Watson's talk on “Another Great Northumbrian Book”

St Paul’s Church, Jarrow, Church Bank, Jarrow NE32 3DY. Printable poster here: RoI Poster for Jarrow. 

Wed 18th

11am -3pm Light and sound projection show ongoing   

Thurs 19th

11am -3pm Light and sound projection show ongoing   

4pm Public talk by  Francis Watson on “Cuthbert, Bede, and Two Great Northumbrian Books”

Galilee Chapel, Durham Cathedral, Durham DH1 3EH (Link to the Durham Cathedral booking site: https://www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/visit-us/concerts-events) Printable poster here: RoI Poster for Cathedral.

Sat 21st Feb

10am – 5pm Light and sound projection show ongoing   

Drop-in workshops suitable for families

3pm Public talk by Francis Watson on “Cuthbert, Bede, and Two Great Northumbrian Books”

“Professor Francis Watson is a New Testament specialist in the Durham Department of Theology and Religion, with a particular research focus on the formation of the biblical canon. His talk will highlight the importance of Codex Amiatinus, the oldest surviving complete Bible in any language, comparing and contrasting it with its better-known contemporary, the Lindisfarne Gospels.”

Sun 22nd Feb

12.30-3.00pm Light and sound projection show ongoing 

Drop-in workshops suitable for families

2pm Public talk by Richard Gameson on "The Three Bibles of Wearmouth/Jarrow"  

Durham University History Professor Richard Gameson is an expert on the history of books, from Antiquity to Renaissance. He explains in his talk "The Three Bibles of Wearmouth/Jarrow" why the community may have wished, and was able, to produce not one but three Bibles, and the religious, scribal, and cultural context (including the textual exemplars) for such an endeavour.

Monday 23rd

10am-5pm Light and sound projection show ongoing 

Drop-in workshops suitable for families.

PEOPLE

Karen Monid and Ross Ashton from The Projection Studio are Honorary Fellows to IMEMS, the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies.