Services
Reading Room
The Library's Reading Room can accommodate up to 15 researchers, and Library staff are always available to assist those using the Library's collections.
Access to the Library's collections is freely available to members of the public, and no appointment is necessary.
However those wishing to use the Library must obtain a Library reader's ticket on their first visit. Details on how to obtain one can be found on the 'Hours and Tickets' page within 'About Us'.
Document Production
Material is generally fetched as required, but this is dependent on the level of demand and the storage location of the material.
A restricted fetching service applies between 11.45am-2pm and no orders can be taken after 4.30pm (this includes Thursdays when the Library is open until 7.30pm).
All material is issued at the discretion of the Reading Room supervisor.
A limit of five items issued per reader at any one time normally applies, and the Library reserves the right to limit the amount of items issued per person per day to 25.
Advance Orders
You can if you wish request advance orders for certain categories of material, though on-demand ordering and fetching of material in the Reading Room is available (restricted for some material from 11.45am-2pm).
Please note that material in the manuscript (MS) sequence is not fetched in advance, but should not take long to fetch when ordered on site.
Readers are asked to observe the following guidelines:-
1. Provide an e-mail address in case we need to contact you urgently about the order.
2. Provide specific references in placing an order (e.g. "Davidson vol. 345" not "material on World War I"). Staff will not normally check indexes on your behalf.
3. Place a limited order (e.g. 5 to 10 items depending on size).
4. Provide a specific date for your visit, in the near future. Readers coming from abroad may notify the Library farther in advance but we would be glad of confirmation shortly before your visit.
5. If you cannot make your appointment, please contact the Library. We will then be happy to keep the material out for a little longer, but if no notification is received then the order will be reshelved as our secure storage is limited.
6. Please allow the Library staff reasonable notice when placing your order (preferably at least 48 hours in advance).
7. Please be aware that although every effort will be made to produce advance orders we cannot guarantee their immediate production.
Main categories of material which may be ordered in advance:-
Archbishops' Papers
Assyrian Mission
Bishop Bell Papers
Bishops' Meetings
Canon Douglas Papers
Carte Miscellanee
Church Society/Association
Church Union
Council on Foreign Relations
Court of Arches*
Convocation Papers
Doctors' Commons
Faculty Office*
Fulham Papers (Bishops of London)*
Incorporated Church Building Society
Lambeth Conference Papers
Papal Documents
Royal Commission on Ecclesiastical Discipline
Sion College printed collections
Temporalities
Vicar General*
*Some of the material in these collections is available on microform stored close to the Reading Room and does not therefore require advance ordering.
For orders of material from the Church of England Record Centre, please contact CERC directly, giving two days notice.
Reader Facilities
The Reading Room is equipped with power points for readers to use their own portable computers. Wireless internet access is available, free of charge. Readers may photograph items from the collection under certain conditions after purchasing a permit.
Microfilm and microfiche readers and an ultra-violet lamp are available.
Tea and coffee are available in the Library's refreshment area, where readers are also welcome to eat their own sandwiches.
Please contact the Library in advance concerning facilities for the disabled.
Enquiries
Lambeth Palace Library and the Church of England Record Centre are currently closed to readers while we move our collections to a new purpose-built Library at Lambeth Palace. We regret that we cannot provide a full enquiry and reprographics service during this period. Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience this will cause.
Our catalogues, and selected images from the collections, are available online: www.lambethpalacelibrary.org/content/searchcollections [8]
Some of our collections are available on microfilm in other institutions: www.lambethpalacelibrary.org/content/microfilming [9]
For guidance on research (which in some cases may include references to sources available in other institutions), please see: www.lambethpalacelibrary.org/content/researchguides [10]
Copying Services
In light of recent government’s announcement regarding the outbreak of coronavirus the National Church Institutions have closed both Lambeth Palace Library and Church of England Record Centre.
All staff are currently working from home.
At the moment the only images we are able to provide are the existing ones, therefore both LPL/CERC won’t be accepting orders for new photography. We are sorry about any inconvenience this may cause you.
The Library can provide a range of copying services. However, the type of copy which can be supplied may depend on the format and condition of the original as the preservation of material for future generations is the Library's over-riding concern. The provision of copies is also subject to copyright considerations.
Pre-payment is required before any reprographic work can be done but please do not send money with your initial order. The Library will advise on cost and payment methods.
Please click on the links below for further information on individual services. Images are usually supplied in digital format.
Note that some images of some items from the collections are available via the image management system [13].
Digital Photography
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 digital_photography.pdf [14] | 113.19 KB |
The Library can provide digital images at its discretion.
This service is not available 'while you wait' but orders should be placed in the Reading Room, by email or post.
On receipt of the completed order form (attached right), the Library will advise on cost and payment methods. Please do not send payment with your order.
Current Prices
High quality images TIFFs: £14.40 each
JPEGs: 12.20 each
These images are suitable for detailed research purposes and for reproduction.
These images are suitable for basic research purposes but not for reproduction.
Images will usually be sent via WeTransfer, an online file sharing service, or by e-mail depending on size.
Note that some images of some items from the collections are available via the image management system [8].
General image information and advice
• All images provided are copyright of Lambeth Palace Library, and may not be used without permission.
• TIFF files are uncompressed, full-format image files, captured at a resolution of 300dpi. Pixel resolution depends on the size and shape of the original.
• Recommended minimum system requirements to view and edit TIFF files:
- Windows 98 or equivalent operating system
- 128Mb RAM
- Pentium 4 processor or equivalent
- Screen resolution of 1024x768
• JPEG files are compressed, to the highest quality, with no reduction in pixel resolution.
• Printing guidelines
- Images of approx. 3000 x 2000 pixels can be printed up to A5/6x8" at 100%.
- Images of approx. 4000 x 4000 pixels can be printed up to A4/8x12" at 100%
- All TIFF files provided can be increased in size by up to 200% for printing up to A3/12x16" without visible loss of quality.
- JPEGS should only be printed up to 100% of their original size.
• Using and editing images
- TIFF files can be opened and saved multiple times with no loss of quality.
- JPEG files, when opened with an image editor, will usually be compressed each time they are saved, thus gradually decreasing in quality each time. It is suggested that you save an ‘archive' copy of each jpeg if extensive editing is to be done.
- It is strongly suggested that all images are backed up onto another disk, hard-drive, or network.
- Images are best viewed at 100% zoom on screen.
- Images downloaded from WeTransfer should be saved onto your own hard-drive as soon as you receive them as the download access will expire after a set period.
Self-service Photography
Photography by readers will be only permitted under the following conditions:
- Self-service photography will only be allowed where compatible with preservation of the material. Before taking photographs readers must register with staff and have any material they wish to photograph assessed for suitability.
- A permit to photograph items from the collections must be purchased for £5 (inc. of vat). Self-service permits are valid for one day only.
- The Library and Record Centre reserve the right to refuse self service photography where material is considered too fragile or would require special handling and to limit the service to assigned seats within the Reading Room. Availability will be subject to capacity.
- No tripods, stands or handheld scanners are allowed. No flash may be used and the photographic device must be on silent. Please do not disturb other readers.
- Bound material must be photographed using the book cradle or supports provided. Unbound material must be placed flat on the desk. Material must not be forced open or flattened by hand or by any other means other than by the weights provided.
- No amendments to lighting or seating can be made and standing on chairs or stools to obtain better images is not allowed. Researchers requiring publication quality images can order copies via the Library or Record Centre’s reprographic services.
- Utmost care must be taken and handling guidelines followed at all times when photographing and handling any material. Both hands must be on the camera when taking any images and staff reserve the right to advise on and correct handling at any time.
- This service is allowed according to the provisions of current copyright law. Please read the agreement detailed on the reverse of this form, by signing this form you agree to abide by the regulations listed.
- The use of copies for publication on a website, exhibition, broadcast or for any commercial purpose requires written permission.
Note that some images of some items from the collections are available online via the image management system [8].
Microfilms
Copies of parts of the Library’s collections are available elsewhere. For full details of what is available on microfilm or in other formats, readers should check the archives catalogue [16]: where copies exist, they are noted in the catalogue descriptions.
Some are available commercially: please see the World Microfilms website [17] (email: microworld@ndirect.co.uk [18]; address: 4/4 Central House, 1 Ballards Lane, London N3 1LQ; tel: 0208 349 8171; mobile phone: 07802 710628) and Cengage website [19] for further details.
It may be worth making enquiries with other large academic or national libraries as to whether copies may be accessible there. For instance, the British Library [20] and the Center for Research Libraries [21] have some relevant holdings. The main categories of material on microfilm are as follows.
MANUSCRIPTS
Most of the medieval material in the Library’s manuscripts (MS) sequence has been microfilmed - available at the British Library [22]
In addition, the following manuscript collections were filmed:
MSS 596-638 - Carew manuscripts - available at the British Library [23]
MSS 647-662 Bacon manuscripts - available at the British Library [24]
MSS 694-710 – Shrewsbury papers - available at the British Library [25]
MSS 929-942 - Gibson papers
MSS 2000-2019 – Fairhurst papers
MSS 2690-2750 - Commission for the Building of Fifty New Churches (the Queen Anne Churches) - available at the British Library [26]
MSS 3192-3206 – Talbot papers - available at the British Library [27]
ARCHIVES
The following archive material was filmed:
Arches - substantial parts of the Court of Arches records, but not all (copies of the process books, Arches D, are at the British Library [28])
CFS - Christian Faith Society
COMM - Commonwealth Records - available at the British Library [29]
FM I - Faculty Office marriage allegations, 1714-1850 (copies available at the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, and the Society of Genealogists, London)
FP Blomfield 1-60 - Bishop Blomfield's letter-books
FP I-XLII – Fulham papers colonial - available at the British Library [30]
FP various references – London visitation returns, 1763-1815
PD - Papal Documents - available at the British Library [22]as part of the Lambeth Palace Library Law Manuscripts section II, reel 18
Reg - Archbishops' Registers, 1279-1642 (Peckham-Laud) - available at the British Library [31]
SPG - Society for the Propagation of the Gospel - available at the British Library [32]
VB 1/1-22 - Archbishops’ Act Books, 1663-1914
VG 3/1a-2d – Canterbury visitation returns, 1786-1806
VM I - Vicar General marriage allegations, 1694-1850 (copies available at the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, and the Society of Genealogists, London)
Miscellaneous American material also available at the British Library [33]
PRINTED BOOKS
Some of our early printed books are available on Early English Books Online [34].
MATERIAL AVAILABLE IN OTHER FORMATS
Selected sources from the Library's collections, including plans from the Incorporated Church Building Society archive, are available via the LUNA image database [8].
Access to the Bacon, Talbot and Shrewsbury papers is also available by subscription from Adam Mathew Digital [35].
Sources relating to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific [36] are available online via the Australia Joint Copying Project [37].
Photocopying
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| photocopies_microform.pdf [38] | 113.88 KB |
Photocopies should be ordered from the Reading Room supervisor whilst visiting the Library, or requested by email or post.
For preservation reasons, the Library is not able to photocopy much of its collections, including bound manuscript material. Please note that this includes a substantial proportion of the archive and manuscript collections, including almost all the Archbishops' papers, Fulham papers (of the Bishop of London) and much of the manuscripts sequence (MSS). However digital photographs of this material can normally be provided.
On receipt of a completed order form (attached right), the Library will advise on cost and payment methods. Please do not send payment with your order.
Current Prices
Photocopies on site (A4 or A3): £1.20 per copy
Photocopies by post (A4 or A3):
1st item per order £8.40
Subsequent sheets £1.20 per copy
Postage and packing (1st class ‘signed for')
United Kingdom £4 Europe £9 World £12
Microform Printouts
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| photocopies_microform.pdf [39] | 113.88 KB |
Some of the Library's collections are available on microfilm or microfiche, and the Library has a self-service reader printer in the Reading Room. Alternatively printouts can be ordered by email or post.
On receipt of the completed order form (attached right), the Library will advise on cost and payment methods. Please do not send payment with your order.
Current prices
Film/fiche prints self service: £1.20 each
Film/fiche prints by post/scans:
1st item per order £8.40
Subsequent sheets or scans £1.20 each
Note that copies can also be provided as scans, either self-service in the Reading Room or via the Library's digital photography service.
Bridgeman Art Library
The Bridgeman Art Library [41] holds digital images of selected Library material, and offers a swift service.
Filming
Filming in the Library for broadcasting purposes in relation to our collections may be permitted by arrangement. Please contact the Library for further details and costs.
Publication
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| permission_to_reproduce.pdf [43] | 118.08 KB |
If images are required for publication rather than for research or private study, a reproduction fee may be payable. However no fee is charged for free to access websites, publications with small print runs and certain other categories of request. The request to publish form (attached right) gives further details and should be completed.
The giving of permission implies no responsibility on the Library's part for any breach of copyright by the publisher.
There is no requirement to seek permission to cite records in our holdings, nor to quote non-substantial parts of them, but when doing this we would ask that you acknowledge Lambeth Palace Library and give any relevant reference codes. On publication, it would be appreciated if the Library could be informed and a copy of the work offered.
If you wish to publish a substantial part of an item in our holdings, please note that the copyright may well not be held by the Library.
Records Management Guides
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Safeguarding records retention [44] | 449.58 KB |
| Care of parish records [45] | 285.91 KB |
| Care of Cathedral Records [46] | 846.45 KB |
| Care of episcopal records [47] | 463.74 KB |
| Care of diocesan records [48] | 357.28 KB |
| What is records management? [49] | 74.74 KB |
| Organising your records [50] | 109.54 KB |
| Looking after your paper records [51] | 100.42 KB |
| Looking after your electronic records [52] | 120.9 KB |
| Looking after your emails [53] | 112.13 KB |
| Multimedia records [54] | 83.49 KB |
| Agreements with record offices [55] | 87.84 KB |
| Access to records [56] | 80.52 KB |
| Data Protection [57] | 129.29 KB |
| Copying and copyright [58] | 75.48 KB |
| Glossary of terms [59] | 81.92 KB |
| Personal files relating to clergy 2018 edition [60] | 439.5 KB |
The records management guides (accessible by clicking on the resources links to the right of this page) have been researched and produced by records and archive management specialists at the Church of England Record Centre, drawing on expert advice from The National Archives, Local Record Offices and the wider archive profession.
*NEW* December 2015 - Safeguarding Records - factsheet on retention for safeguarding records to accompany advice from the House of Bishops.
These guides are designed to help parishes, dioceses, Bishops and cathedrals develop a consistent and best practice approach to the treatment of Church records in their care whether paper or electronic. There is a separate guide for each specific set of Church records. Each guide contains some general records management advice alongside detailed guidance on the retention of record types associated with each area. This general advice has been expanded and updated where appropriate to form a series of 11 factsheets – the records management toolkit (also available under resources). The factsheets cover various records management topics in bite-size sections.
Chapter and Verse – The Care of Cathedral Records(published June 2013) has been jointly produced with the Cathedral Libraries and Archives Association to support cathedral staff in managing their records from the point of creation, through to their destruction or permanent retention as an archive record.
Cherish or Chuck? – The Care of Episcopal Records (published December 2009) is designed to support Bishops offices and staff in managing the records created in the course of the diocesan, national and other work undertaken by their Bishop.
Save or Delete? – The Care of Diocesan Records(revised December 2008) is designed to support diocesan offices and staff to manage the mass of information that they create and manage in support of the work of the diocese, enabling them to easily identify what needs to be kept and what can safely be destroyed.
Keep or Bin? – The Care of Your Parish Records(revised April 2009) is designed to help clergy and parish officers to understand which records need to be kept by the church, which should be sent to the local archive centre, and which can simply be disposed of as confidential waste.
Personal Files Relating to Clergy – Guidance for Bishops and their staff (revised May 2018) is approved by the House of Bishops and designed to help ensure that clergy files are managed to the highest standards.
If you are unable to download copies, paper copies can be requested from the Church of England Record Centre.
Address: 15 Galleywall Road, South Bermondsey, London SE16 3PB.
Email: recordsmanagementteam@churchofengland.org [61]
