This two-year collaborative project (February 2026–January 2028) explores the rich collection of Coptic manuscripts held at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library in Manchester. Our aim is simple but ambitious: to bring academic research and community knowledge into meaningful conversation.  

The John Rylands holds more than 600 Coptic manuscripts – handwritten books that offer unique insights into the history of the Coptic Church and the religious and social worlds of late antique and early Islamic Egypt. Despite their importance, these manuscripts are understudied and under-shared.

This project brings these materials to life by recognising that manuscripts are not just historical objects, but part of ongoing cultural and spiritual traditions. We will also explore how and why these manuscripts came to Manchester from Egypt, reflecting on the history of collecting and its impact today.

What we will do

• Work together with the Coptic Orthodox community
  We will collaborate with local community members to identify and study key manuscripts that shed light on early Coptic history—combining academic expertise with lived knowledge and tradition.

• Research the history of the collection
  We will investigate how the manuscripts became part of the John Rylands collection, placing them within wider histories of collecting, empire, and cultural heritage.

• Share the collection widely
  Through hands-on collection encounters, a public conference, and a co-created digital exhibition and book, we will open up the collection to new audiences and create opportunities for people to engage directly with these remarkable materials.

This project is about more than academic research. It aims to build relationships, share knowledge, and create new ways for communities and collections to connect.