A Wonderful Evening at The John Rylands Library
On Thursday 3rd September, the Manchester Consular Association gathered at The John Rylands Library on Deansgate and it made for a wonderful evening.
We were warmly greeted by Library Director Professor Chris Pressler and Heather Cole, Head of Collections and Education, before a guided tour among the library's treasures. Opened in 1900 as Enriqueta Rylands' memorial to her husband, the textile merchant John Rylands, the library is one of the most stunning buildings in the world: a masterpiece of Victorian neo-Gothic architecture by Basil Champneys, with soaring vaulted ceilings and stained glass that give it an almost cathedral-like atmosphere. Members and guests took in remarkable collections, including the St John's Fragment — the oldest surviving piece of New Testament writing in Greek — before gathering for a reception amid such extraordinary surroundings.
Our thanks to Professor Pressler, Heather Cole, and the whole team at the Library for so generously hosting the Association. We look forward to welcoming you to our next event soon.
