Records of the Jesus Guild in St Paul's Cathedral, c.1450-1550: An Edition of Oxford, Bodleian MS Tanner 221, and Associated Material

The first printed edition of the Jesus Guild's records, from the early sixteenth century, provides insight into the pre-Reformation church, London's economy, and social relationships, and sheds light on linguistic developments. The records are accompanied by notes, glossary, and biographies of the Guild wardens.

Format: Hardback
Length: 330 pages
Publication date: 18 March 2022
Publisher: London Record Society

The first printed edition of a crucial source for understanding the pre-Reformation church is presented here. The Jesus Guild, a manifestation of cutting-edge orthodox devotion, drew members from the highest echelons of London society as well as support from people of all backgrounds throughout the country in the decades preceding the Reformation. In addition to illuminating aspects of the devotional life shared by some of London's most influential citizens, its records provide a wealth of information about the City's economy, its citizens' interpersonal relationships, and linguistic developments at a critical juncture. This volume reproduces for the first time all the extant records surviving for the Guild in the early sixteenth century, with a special emphasis on the twenty consecutive years of its surviving accounts. Alongside the records for the guild, the volume includes the 1552 inventory of goods in St Faith's church and the expenses incurred by that parish when it moved into the space previously occupied by the Guild. These records reveal the influences of the religious changes of the 1550s on the crypt chapel and some of the Guild's possessions. The documents are edited with accompanying notes and glossary, complemented by an introduction that places them in a broad context and by biographies of the Guild wardens identified in the text.

Dimension: 244 x 150 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780900952623