From cassocks to coins: A brief history of Archbishops in Lambeth Palace's library

"The exhibition, in the Lambeth Palace Library, is mainly a collection of objects relating to a range of Archbishops, with documents and drawings in one room, and, in a second, more secure room, the gold and silver that the church uses to remind people of the virtues of charity. In a darkened space, the cabinets open to display an archbishop's cassock and a modern travelling cross made from perspex to reduce weight."

"Lots of silver spoons in another case might make you think of the old proverb about being born with a silver spoon in the mouth, although to be fair, archbishops have often been from fairly humble backgrounds. One of the harder items to look at closely, because they're quite small are a display of coins. I had no idea that Archbishops used to be able to mint their own coins (and turns out so could York)."

"A piece of Croydon is here as well - a fragment of stained glass from old Croydon Minster, signed by Archbishop Laud in the 17th century, sitting in the same case as Archbishop Cranmer's wax seal mould. It's next to a very rare object, a seal matrix for Archbishop Hutton. He was archbishop for just one year, so few seals were made, and as most are usually melted down afterwards, this one is an unusual survivor."

Lambeth Palace Library displays objects and documents connected to a range of past Archbishops across two rooms: one with drawings and papers and a secure room housing gold and silver plate used to signify charity. The displays include an archbishop's cassock and a lightweight perspex travelling cross, cupboards of silver spoons, and a small display of coins showing that Archbishops (and York) could mint their own coinage. A stained glass fragment from Croydon Minster sits with Cranmer's wax seal mould and a rare seal matrix for Archbishop Hutton, who served one year. The paperwork of appointments is shown, including an updated order of service for Archbishop Lang replacing the Prime Minister with the Lord Chancellor due to King George V's illness, reflecting formal precedence.

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