The Durham Collectar

A translation and study of Durham Cathedral Library MS A. IV. 19, a book of collects for the Divine Office, a part of the service-books of monk or priest in Anglo-Saxon England. Few liturgical historians are aware that a book of collects for theDivine Office formed part of the service-books owned by a monk orpriest in Anglo-Saxon England. The Durham Collectar, misnamed the`Durham Ritual'and tentatively dated to the tenth century, is the earliest collectar to have survived in England. Where did it come from,and how was it used? To answer the first, a new edition of the Latintext is presented in this volume, with extensive collationtablesshowing at a glance the most influential liturgical sources. In theintroduction, the function of the collectar is discussed.