Long-lost 15th century prayer scroll found in shoebox is 'medieval work of art' – Daily Star

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An incredible manuscript that holds clues to the past has been found stuffed in a shoebox.
An Arma Christi scroll was found at the Bar Convent archive in York by Dr Hannah Thomas. The doc said it was one of the “best preserved examples” of an illuminated manuscript “ever found”.
An illuminated manuscript is a hand-written book known to have painted decoration that often includes gold or silver. The elaborate creations were made from animal skin and produced between the 12th and 17th century.
Dr Thomas said according to the York Press: "This is an illuminated script, with hand-drawn figures and beautiful calligraphy it is a medieval work of art in its own right.
“However, where it differs from the other examples that have been discovered is that this is not merely an illustrated poem or prayer created for private contemplation, but featuring response texts suggesting it was used by groups or families as they gathered together for prayers in the home.”
The document found by Dr Thomas is believed to date from around 1475 and is one of only 11 copies known to have survived. It features the prayer poem O Vernicle.
After it was carefully crafted over 500 years ago, the manuscript was found in a shoebox that had leaflets from the 1980s in, the BBC reported.
It is believed the scroll was “used by groups or families as they gathered together for prayers in the home” because of the response texts featured on the pages.
There are other Arma Christi manuscripts that can be found all over the world. Including at the British Library in London, Bodleian Library in Oxford and Huntington Library in California.
Bar Convent said it holds no records that show when this Arma Christi manuscript was put into its care.
The item is now due to go on display in April, while mother superior Sister Ann Stafford revealed the response texts on the scroll would be used in a service to be performed at the convent’s chapel.
She said: “We're delighted that presiding at the service will be the Bishop of Middlesbrough and the Archbishop of York.
"We plan to livestream the service so that the world can share in its discovery."
She also said: "We know that there will be huge excitement about this discovery, but given that it has remained hidden for over 500 years, we know that people will not mind waiting a few more weeks before we share this magnificent scroll with the world.”
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