Missal of Arbuthnott
Encyclopedia
The Arbuthnott Missal is the only extant missal
(liturgical book
) of the Scottish Use. It won a prestigious top award in the British Library
's Hidden Treasures competition 2007.
James Sibbald, priest of Arbuthnott
, Scotland
, wrote it in 1491 on vellum
in Gothic
characters with illuminations
. It is the only complete service book of its kind known to have survived the Reformation
in Scotland. It provides a unique and irreplaceable insight into the forms of worship practised in Scottish churches not only at the time it was made but for a period of about four hundred years before. It mainly follows the Sarum Rite
.
Apart from its unique significance in Scottish religion, the Missal is a rare and important example of Scottish medieval art and letters – a large, beautifully preserved volume of 248 pages, lavishly decorated with twenty three-quarter page border illuminations and illustrations, as well as finely painted miniature initials spaced throughout the text. A striking full-page miniature painting of St Ternan, patron saint of the church of Arbuthnott, is modelled on William Scheves
, Archbishop of St Andrews
, and can claim to be one of the earliest Scottish portraits.
After the Reformation
, the missal became the property of the Arbuthnott family
, in whose possession it remained until 1897, when it was purchased by Archibald Coats of Paisley
, who presented it to the town museum.
It was edited under the title Liber Ecclesie Beati Terrenani de Arbuthnott: Missale secundum usum Ecclesiæ Sancti Andreæ in Scotia by Alexander Penrose Forbes
, Bishop of Brechin and published in 1864 by his brother George Hay Forbes
at the Pitsligo Press, Burntisland
.
Missal
A missal is a liturgical book containing all instructions and texts necessary for the celebration of Mass throughout the year.-History:Before the compilation of such books, several books were used when celebrating Mass...
(liturgical book
Liturgical book
A liturgical book is a book published by the authority of a church, that contains the text and directions for the liturgy of its official religious services.-Roman Catholic:...
) of the Scottish Use. It won a prestigious top award in the British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
's Hidden Treasures competition 2007.
James Sibbald, priest of Arbuthnott
Arbuthnott
Arbuthnott is a small village in northeast Scotland, 26 miles south of Aberdeen. It is located on the B967 east of Fordoun and north-west of Inverbervie in Aberdeenshire. The nearest train station is Stonehaven....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, wrote it in 1491 on vellum
Vellum
Vellum is mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on, to produce single pages, scrolls, codices or books. It is generally smooth and durable, although there are great variations depending on preparation, the quality of the skin and the type of animal used...
in Gothic
Gothic language
Gothic is an extinct Germanic language that was spoken by the Goths. It is known primarily from the Codex Argenteus, a 6th-century copy of a 4th-century Bible translation, and is the only East Germanic language with a sizable Text corpus...
characters with illuminations
Illuminated manuscript
An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations...
. It is the only complete service book of its kind known to have survived the Reformation
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
in Scotland. It provides a unique and irreplaceable insight into the forms of worship practised in Scottish churches not only at the time it was made but for a period of about four hundred years before. It mainly follows the Sarum Rite
Sarum Rite
The Sarum Rite was a variant of the Roman Rite widely used for the ordering of Christian public worship, including the Mass and the Divine Office...
.
Apart from its unique significance in Scottish religion, the Missal is a rare and important example of Scottish medieval art and letters – a large, beautifully preserved volume of 248 pages, lavishly decorated with twenty three-quarter page border illuminations and illustrations, as well as finely painted miniature initials spaced throughout the text. A striking full-page miniature painting of St Ternan, patron saint of the church of Arbuthnott, is modelled on William Scheves
William Scheves
William Scheves was the second Archbishop of St. Andrews. In his earlier ecclesiastical career, he had been clericus regiae and Master of the hospital of Brechin. In 1474 he was provided unsuccessful to the Archdeaconry of Dunblane, but by the beginning of 1477 he was Archdeacon of St Andrews...
, Archbishop of St Andrews
Archbishop of St Andrews
The Bishop of St. Andrews was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of St Andrews and then, as Archbishop of St Andrews , the Archdiocese of St Andrews.The name St Andrews is not the town or church's original name...
, and can claim to be one of the earliest Scottish portraits.
After the Reformation
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
, the missal became the property of the Arbuthnott family
Clan Arbuthnott
Clan Arbuthnott is a Scottish clan or family from the area of Kincardineshire in the lowland northeast of Scotland.-Origin of name:From the place name Aberbothenoth, which lies on a narrow peninsula on the north side of the river Bervie...
, in whose possession it remained until 1897, when it was purchased by Archibald Coats of Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, who presented it to the town museum.
It was edited under the title Liber Ecclesie Beati Terrenani de Arbuthnott: Missale secundum usum Ecclesiæ Sancti Andreæ in Scotia by Alexander Penrose Forbes
Alexander Penrose Forbes
Alexander Penrose Forbes , Scottish divine, was born at Edinburgh.He was the second son of John Hay Forbes, Lord Medwyn, a judge of the court of session, and grandson of Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo. He studied first at the Edinburgh Academy, then for two years under the Rev. Thomas Dale...
, Bishop of Brechin and published in 1864 by his brother George Hay Forbes
George Hay Forbes
George Hay Forbes , a Scottish Episcopalian clergyman, brother of Alexander Penrose Forbes, bishop of Brechin. Despite severe physical adversity, Forbes was responsible for church building at Burntisland near Edinburgh, where he founded the Pitsligo Press. Amongst his publications he edited...
at the Pitsligo Press, Burntisland
Burntisland
Burntisland is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland on the Firth of Forth. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 5,940....
.