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COLLECTION STORY

The Little Gidding Concordance

The story behind one of the treasures of the Royal Library

Detail from the title page of the Little Gidding Concordance

Explore The Little Gidding Concordance

      This grand and enormous book is one of the treasures of the Royal Library.

      Created for Charles II when he was Prince of Wales by a religious community called Little Gidding, it is entirely made up of collaged books and prints. It is sumptuously bound in purple velvet and decorated with gold tooling.

      Totally unique and one of only a handful of books made by the community, the Little Gidding concordance is both impressive and beautiful to look at, and historically very important.

      This research was undertaken by Rebecca Whiteley as part of a curatorial internship in the Royal Library, 2013-14.

      The community at Little Gidding

      The community thrived at Little Gidding between 1625 and the 1640s

      Bound cover of a volume
      The provenance of the Royal Library's Concordance

      The Windsor copy is the last, and largest, made by the community

      The contents of the Royal Library's Concordance

      The Windsor concordance is the most structurally complex

      The purpose of the Royal Library's Concordance

      The Concordance deals with the relationship of the New Testament to the Old

      The illustrations

      Religious imagery was a contentious subject

      Summary

      The Concordances are fascinating evidence of the way the community worked

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      Official Royal Residences

      The income from your ticket contributes directly to The Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity. The aims of The Royal Collection Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational activities.