Bound Again in Gold Leaf: University of Chester Restores Historic Bible Honoring a ‘Pioneer of Community Singing’
More than seven decades after it was first donated, a historic Bible dedicated to the memory of a beloved 1900 graduate has been lovingly restored by the University of Chester. The large, leather-bound volume—a 1935 edition—was given to the then Chester Diocesan Training College in 1955 by alumni who wished to honor their fellow student, Billy King. A dedicated teacher and a true pioneer of community singing, King’s life was rooted in devotion to the Church, the college, and public service. His obituary in the Collegian magazine painted a portrait of a man whose faith and joyful leadership of communal song left an indelible mark on all who knew him. But over the years, the Bible fell into heartbreaking disrepair: its front and back covers detached, its spine shattered by time. Rather than let memory crumble, the University commissioned a specialist restoration to breathe new life into this quiet testament of faith and fellowship.
That task fell to Phill Woods, a master bookbinder with over 40 years of experience at Chester Bookbinders. With traditional tools and painstaking care, Woods crafted a new goatskin leather spine and tooled it with gold leaf to match the original design. The entire Bible was then treated and dyed to halt any further decay, ensuring its survival for generations to come. Now safely housed within the University’s archive, the restored volume stands as far more than a relic. As Alumni Assistant Amy Hultum noted, it commemorates an individual “who gave so much to the College community”—and thanks to this delicate work of preservation, Billy King’s legacy of song, service, and scripture will continue to inspire future students, staff, and alumni. In an age of digital distraction, a restored Bible and a craftsman’s golden touch remind us that some stories are worth saving by hand.
