David Shreeve, who has previously been awarded an honourary Lambeth Degree for his work on the environment and worked for the Church of England for several years, gave a donation of almost 40 books. 

Graham Usher, the Bishop of Norwich and lead bishop for the environment, welcomed the donation. He said: “I am delighted that the Lambeth Palace Library wants to reflect within its collection the engagement of Anglicans with environmental issues, from the story of Anglican priest naturalists to those writing from the context of today’s climate and biodiversity crises.” 

Books accepted into the public library’s collection include the 1883 “Natural History of the Bible” by the ordained naturalist HB Tristram, and the 1893 “Teachings of Nature” by Hugh Macmillan.

Giles Mandelbrote, librarian and archivist of Lambeth Palace Library said: “Lambeth Palace Library aims to document through its collections all the major challenges which have faced the Church in the past and in years to come. 

“We welcome these new books to the collection at a time when the library’s new building is raising its public profile and improving public access to its collections.”

The books will be available to view and read from the reading room. More information on accessing the library’s collection is available online.