Historic Papal politics : Platina’s Lives of the Popes TAGS: Catholic | church history | donations | fifteenth century | Funk | Incunabula | medieval | New College Library | Popes | rare books Bartolomeo Platina, (1421-1481) was a writer and member of the College of Abbreviators in Rome, a body of writers in the papal chancery who prepared the Pope’s bulls, briefs and …Continue reading →

Treasures of New College Library : The Longforgan Free Church Ministers Library TAGS: cataloguing | Free Church of Scotland | Funk | New College Library | Patristics | rare books | Special Collections The Longforgan Free Church Ministers Library is a collection of handsomely bound volumes, particularly rich in patristic and theological texts. The rare books in the collection include Knox’s Liturgy (1611), the …Continue reading →

Works of King James I & VI now on display at New College Library TAGS: Dumfries Presbytery Library | Funk | Latin | New College Library | rare books | seventeenth-century | theology in history New on display in the entrance to New College Library is the Works of King James I of England and VI of Scotland edited by  James Montagu, Bishop of Winchester, …Continue reading →

The wood-walls of Scotland : a Christmas Carol TAGS: Christmas | Church of Scotland | Disruption | Free Church of Scotland | Hymn | New College Library | nineteenth-century | Pamphlets | Scotland | Special Collections New College Christmas Carol Service is taking place today at 5pm in the Martin Hall, led by members of the New College community and with singing from the New College Choir. Here’s a …Continue reading →

To fast or feast? Celebrating Christmas in the eighteenth century TAGS: Christianity | Christmas | church history | Church of England | Edinburgh | eighteenth-century | Funk | New College Library | rare books | Theology & Ethics | theology in history | Z Collection Many folk will be going to Christmas lunches and parties this week – including New College Library staff. Outside our office window the Edinburgh Christmas fair is in full (and noisy) swing, celebrating the …Continue reading →

Festival Prayers for Hanukkah TAGS: Dalman-Christie | eighteenth-century | Funk | Hebrew | Jewish | Judaism | New College Library | online | rare books   The Mahzor Ashkenazim  is an example of a mahzor, or festival prayer book, for Ashkenazi usage, published in Venice in the early eighteenth century. Its large size makes it …Continue reading →

The saint, the saltire and a Scottish legend TAGS: Bible | Biblical Studies | Funk | New College Library | Psalms | saints | Scotland | seventeenth-century | University of Edinburgh Today, November 30, is Saint Andrew’s day,  also celebrated as Scotland’s national day. The Oxford Dictionary of Saints (available online to University of Edinburgh users)  notes that the cult of St …Continue reading →

A prayer for a pudding? TAGS: Christmas | Church of England | Dumfries Presbytery Library | Funk | liturgy | New College Library | rare books | Reformation | sixteenth-century | Theology & Ethics 25 November 2012 is traditionally Stir Up Sunday, when cooks plan to make their Christmas puddings so they have time to mature before eating on Christmas Day. This tradition is …Continue reading →

Psalms for St Cecilia’s Day TAGS: eighteenth-century | Funk | Hymnology | music | New College Library | Psalms | rare books | saints | Scotland The feast of St Cecilia’s Day is traditionally celebrated on November 22nd.  A 3rd century martyr, St Cecilia is known as the patron saint of musicians. Her legend relates that, as …Continue reading →

New College Library’s earliest Bible TAGS: Bible | Biblical Studies | Divinity | Funk | greek | New College Library | rare books | Reformation | sixteenth-century This Greek New Testament Novum Testamentum Graece, is the earliest Bible held at New College Library. It was printed in Strassburg in 1524, and in his preface the printer speaks …Continue reading →