The National Trust has been able to complete the purchase of the Missal from the Legh family for a net cost of £465,000 with funding support of £316,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £100,000 from The Art Fund, and the remaining amount from a range of other bodies and charitable foundations.
"The acquisition of the Sarum Missal is hugely exciting and presents us with a wonderful opportunity to share this intriguing and historic book," said Mark Purcell, the National Trust’s Libraries Curator.
"It is one of only two Caxtons in the world which has remained in the ownership of a single family for 500 years. The Trust is grateful to the Legh family for giving us the opportunity to purchase the book, and to the Heritage Lottery Fund and many others whose generous support enabled the Trust to return the Missal to Lyme Park.”
Other organisations involved in raising funds for the acquisition include The Foyle Foundation, The Pilgrim Trust, The Friends of the National Libraries, The Robert Gavron Charitable Trust, The Royal Oak Foundation, The Peak District National Trust Association together with private individuals.
