Following the introduction of new legislation at the beginning of 2010 which permits certain British institutions to deaccession for the purposes of meeting recommendations of an appointed panel (presently the Spoliation Advisory Panel) and the approval of the Secretary of State for the restitution of cultural items 'lost' in the Nazi era, the Archdiocese of Benevento made a renewed application for the return of an important medieval missal, written in Beneventan script, in the possession of the British Library.
The missal had most probably been taken in the aftermath of the bombing and widespread destruction of the City of Benevento soon after the Allied landings at Salerno in 1943. It was acquired by a British army captain in Naples in 1944 and thereafter by the British Museum in 1947.
The application of the Archdiocese arose after the Panel's recommendation in 2005 for the missal's return to Benevento, and resulted in a renewed recommendation (see Reports of the Panel to the House of Commons of 23 March 2005 and 15 September 2010). The British Library subsequently resolved to make the return.
The manuscript was released by the British Library on 9 November 2010, and delivered to Benevento by the Archdiocese's representative on 11 November, Armistice Day, at the opening session of an international conference on medieval Latin literature. It was received with acclaim by the Archbishop and the Mayor, who made speeches of gratitude to the British Library and authorities, with numerous other officials and many citizens in attendance.
Withers acted pro bono for the Archdiocese.
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