Campaigners are fighting to have one of Britain's greatest religious treasures, the Lindisfarne Gospels, permanently returned to their historical home.

The Bishop of Durham and several local MPs are calling for the manuscript to be put on show in the north-east of England before the end of 1999. They say there is a growing popular feeling that the return should be a permanent one.

Holy Island

The beautifully-illustrated gospels were produced by monks on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne in the seventh century. Fears that they might fall into viking hands led to them being taken to the mainland.

But they were later seized from Durham Cathedral and taken south to London where they are now the closely-guarded property of the British Library.

However, members of the North of England Assembly of Local Authorities say plans are being developed for the manuscript to be displayed in the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle, and Durham Cathedral.

Representatives are to meet the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Chris Smith, to work out the details. To secure the gospels' return, however temporary, the assembly is considering the National Lottery as a source of funding.

Fraser Kemp believes the gospels are part of the north-east's heritage and should return home

The Assembly Chairman, John McCormack, said: "What we really want to see is the gospels back home.

"That is why we are moving ahead with discussions on the possibility of them housing exhibitions for a year each.

"We believe it will greatly assist our long-term goal of establishing a second home for them in the region."

Feeling about the issue is running so high in the north-east that one local Labour MP, Fraser Kemp, has drawn up a private member's bill to have the gospels permanently returned to the region.

"A lot of people in the north-east would actually like to see them return. I think the north-east is very proud of its past and its history and equally is very confident about its future. And I think the Lindisfarne Gospels would say a lot about the north-east as we enter the new millennium," said Mr Kemp.

A computer reproduction of the gospels may precede the return of the real thing

Mr Kemp's bill goes before Parliament on April 8, but unless it wins government backing it is unlikely to become law.

In the meantime the British Library is holding onto the gospels and argues that this is consistent with its role in preserving important parts of the national heritage for the public and scholars.

However, it is backing a scheme also supported by the Northern Group of Labour MPs for a computer-generated reproduction of the gospels to be made and sent to the north-east.

The library says it might also eventually lend the actual gospels for a temporary exhibition in the region.
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