Sir, Fifty years ago, the Council for the Care of Churches was commissioned to inquire into the state of parochial libraries. Many were collections of antiquarian theological works, often in poor condition; more had been dispersed than had survived. A report was published in 1959, containing a gazetteer and brief description of the survivors; since then, more detailed catalogues have appeared. As a result of the inquiry, very few such libraries have since been disposed of. A parish wishing to be rid of its “old books that nobody reads” is generally required to deposit them in an institutional library for conservation as a separate collection.

Cathedrals and other Church institutions such as theological colleges, convents and teachers colleges, often possess books of far greater interest or value. Cathedral libraries are generally treasured, well maintained, and expertly catalogued; they are supervised and administered by people who know about books. But the disastrous dispersal of the Bishop Phillpotts Library (report, Sept 10) suggests that a survey of the contents and conditions of Church institutional libraries, and the policies of those responsible for them, is long overdue. Trustees may have the right to sell their property, but an enforceable code of practice is needed, and custodians of libraries required to seek expert and disinterested advice.

We rightly make it difficult for churches to sell off antique plate, furniture and works of art. If the Church of England takes its patrimony seriously, it should extend similar protection to books and manuscripts.

THE REV CANON B. J. FINDLAY, Monks Eleigh, Suffolk

Sir, Ruth Gledhill includes some of my comments in her account of the unfortunate saga of books sold from the Bishop Phillpotts Library. But crucially she does not state that Mr Thornton has never been a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association (ABA) and more importantly that our three members who contacted the library offering their services received no response. This association was founded in 1906 and its members are bound by a code of good practice which requires them to make “fair, informed and honest” offers to purchase.

If one of our members purchased a book from a private individual, estate, or library, and subsequently discovered it to be of significantly higher value than thought, we would certainly expect that member to make adequate restitution to the original owner.

ALAN SHELLEY, President of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association

Explore Letters

• Feedback