Kedermister Library, Parish library at St Mary's Church in Langley, England.
Kedermister Library is a parish library housed within St Mary's Church near Slough and contains theological works written in Latin from the seventeenth century. The books rest in ornate cupboards designed around 1620 and remain in their original setting within the church.
Sir John Kedermister founded this library before 1631 to provide learning materials for ministers in Langley and educated people throughout Buckinghamshire. The collection developed into an important archive of theological works that later became a point of scholarly interest beyond its original parish boundaries.
The collection reflects seventeenth-century scholarship through theological works and the original vellum catalogue from 1638 listing 307 volumes, showing how books were valued and gathered during that period. The way volumes rest in richly decorated cupboards reveals how knowledge was cherished and preserved by earlier generations.
The library opens on specific days only and requires advance planning for a visit. Since the collection is housed within a church building, visitors should expect a quiet religious setting and come prepared to show respect for the space.
The collection houses the Pharmacopolium manuscript from 1630, a rare medical work from that era. Even more remarkable is that another treasure from the collection, the Kedermister Gospels, has been loaned to the British Library for preservation and display.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
