‘The Saint John’s Bible’ Heritage Edition Now on Permanent Display at George Fox University
April 20, 2026
NEWBERG, Ore. — George Fox University’s full seven-volume Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible – a hand-calligraphed masterpiece of biblical art – is now on permanent display in the university’s chapel. To house the collection, the university commissioned a custom-built display case from Oregon craftsman Chris Breithaupt.
The Heritage Edition is one of only 299 exact representations of the original 1,200-page manuscript commissioned by the Benedictine community at Saint John’s Abbey in Minnesota. It represents the first hand-calligraphed Bible produced by the Benedictines in more than 500 years.
“With 160 beautiful works of biblical artwork contributed by seven amazing artists and seven leading calligraphers from around the world, it’s like having the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in our beautiful new chapel at George Fox University,” said Professor Paul Anderson, who shepherded the procurement of the volumes.
Envisioned by the leading calligrapher in the world since 1970, Donald Jackson – the official scribe of the King of England, living in Wales – the project was proposed to the Saint John’s Abbey in 1995, celebrating its 150th anniversary. After several years of planning, the folios on parchment were produced between 2001 and 2011, and over the next two years, the 299 volumes of the Heritage Edition were completed by hand.The acquisition of the St. John’s Bible Heritage Edition was completed in 2017 due to a successful fundraising campaign that coincided with the university’s 125th anniversary. George Fox is one of only two academic institutions in Oregon to own all seven volumes. Beyond its aesthetic value, the Bible serves as a profound resource for Visio Divina – the practice of "seeing the Word of God."
The Bible’s display case itself is a work of art, designed and built by Breithaupt of Work of Our Hands Woodcraft. Drawing on a unique professional background that includes boat-building in Alaska and footwear prototype engineering at Nike, Breithaupt used Oregon white oak and traditional joinery to create a stand that reflects the durability and grace of the volumes it holds.
The university invites the community to experience the Bible firsthand. Every Wednesday during the school year at 11:30 a.m., following the weekly Quaker worship service in the chapel, Dr. Anderson performs a formal “turning of the page,” allowing visitors to witness different illuminations throughout the liturgical year.
George Fox University, Oregon’s largest private university, is a U.S. News & World Report “Best National University.” Enrolling nearly 5,000 students across its Newberg campus, regional centers in Portland and Redmond, and online, the institution offers more than 60 undergraduate programs and 21 graduate degrees. George Fox is a leader in flexible education, featuring accelerated online bachelor's degrees tailored for working adults.
Contact:
Carly Reumann
creumann@georgefox.edu
503-554-2101