Welcome to My Catholic Library

The home of hand-bound Catholic books that are good for the soul

My Catholic Library breathes new life into old beloved books, as well as publishing new editions of Catholic classics, using traditional bookbinding skills. Who can I help? Well, are you looking for a gift that’s both special and useful? Maybe it’s a present for a godchild for First Holy Communion, or a friend for their ordination? If so, go to the Bookshop to browse our growing list of titles on spiritual reading, liturgy, and more. Since I make all your books by hand, each one has customisable options so that you’ll get a beautiful, durable, and orthodox book.

What if you’ve got a treasured book already in your Catholic library that’s seen better days? Take a look at the Book Repair page to see how I can deal with ripped or loose pages, damaged covers, and torn ribbons using traditional tools and techniques. You can see examples of my book repair and restoration work, and posts about our published books, on my Blog. Finally, if you want to know why I believe you deserve a collection of books you’ll be proud to call “my Catholic library”, you can find out more about my love for this age-old craft on the About page.

In the Bookshop

MCL
Children's Missal

Holy Mass explained in full colour

MCL
Holy Week Missal

with commentary by Bl. Ildephonso Schuster

Book restoration

Bring your treasures back to life with our restoration service

     Excellent  
     Based on 16 reviews 
    
 
 
   
 
 
        
   Mary Jones 
 10 April 2024
 
 
  I recently had two of my missals recovered by Mark and I am utterly impressed. It is beautiful craftsmanship and I would recommend his services to anyone. 10/10!
  
 
       
   Stephen Robinson 
 18 December 2023
 
 
  I recently took a lectionary which had been damaged accidentally to Mark Chatwood at My Catholic Library. The spine edge was hanging loose and I felt it might be beyond repair. However,  Mark was able to use his amazing bookbinding skills to fully restore the lectionary to its former complete state. This included colour matching the cover of the book. The lectionary is now back in its rightful place on the lectern in church and, thanks to Mark, the Word of God can be proclaimed again! The cost of the repair was very reasonable and we at the parish of St John Fisher RC Church, Kearsley are extremely grateful for Mark's experienced  knowledge and expertise in being able to restore our treasured lectionary. We thoroughly recommend My Catholic Library to everyone who has a treasured book in need of tender loving care.
Thanks again Mark.
Stephen Robinson - on behalf of Father Bryan Cunningham, parish priest of the parish of St John Fisher RC Church and the Shoenstatt Pastoral Centre, Kearsley, Bolton.
  
 
       
   delia nye 
 27 November 2023
 
 
  Lovely job from Mark I feel like I have a new Missal not a 60 - 70yr old one.   Thank you Mark
  
 
       
   Ricardo Amaya 
 19 November 2023
 
 
  I'm very pleased with Mark's job, it restored my fifty-year-old missal to be like new. I believe even better because of the brand-new covers made of calf leather and endpapers. Mark even resorted to completing some missing Saints Day pages.  Many thanks, Mark, great job. Glory be to God!
  
 
       
   Michael Gibbons 
 22 October 2023
 
 
  Posted before and after photo's of my restored book to show what an excellent and professional job that Mark completed.
Fantastic service from Mark. He makes sure you get what you want from the restoration service.
I would heartily recommend His work. I am delighted with the end result.
  
 
       
   Kenneth Roberts 
 13 October 2023
 
 
  I entrusted my school prize Bible which I have used daily for 60 years and was in pieces. Mark, thank you for doing such a fantastic professional job, it looks good for another 60 years! Thank you for the extra care you took removing the prize label and placing it within the renewed covers and for carefully placing the last bit of the original spine with Holy Bible on it inside for me. Highly recommend you and your work.
  
 
       
   John Stirzaker 
 8 October 2023
 
 
  Mark made the process so easy. The Missal he restored for me had belonged to my late Mother, and was in urgent need of repair. Mark quoted on the project, just from photographs. He kept in touch with me, suggesting the box to store the missal in. Two last touches were the gold lettering on the box, and a fitted envelope to insert the cards my Mother had collected, one dated back to the early 60s. I am grateful for Mark's care and attention, and highly recommend him, for his skills and expertise. The new maker ribbons he added were a lovely final touch for an excellent restoration.
  
 
       
   Ralph Marsh 
 7 October 2023
 
 
  Mr Chatwood's restoration of my book was carried out swiftly and to my great satisfaction. I can recommend his work with confidence.
  
 
       
   Samuel Baker 
 23 September 2023
 
 
  Mark carried out some lovely work on a book whose topic was very close to my heart, and which I'd discovered serendipitously in an old box, in an old outbuilding, in a place very close to my heart. So it was a very personal project for me and Mark took a very personal approach to it.

I was fortunate to be able to hand it over to him in person and it felt like a pair of safe hands from the start. As shown in the photos, the book was crumbling and, to my layman's eyes, was a total write-off! However, Mark soon sent me the photos of the work in progress and I was relieved to see it recover its strength. He added some delightful end paper, which beautifully enhanced the original.

What really amazed me, though, was seeing the finished product: Mark had only shown me pictures with the cover he had put on, but when it arrived I saw he'd carefully stripped the old cover from the book and attached it to the new one so that it almost looked like the original. I was blown away! I would thoroughly recommend Mark's services!
  
 
       
   Marie Amaya 
 4 September 2023
 
 
  Stunning job done with my 1951 misal.
Impecable leather cover replacement with Fleur de Lys print. I chose the matching front page that I preferred.
I'm delighted, thank you very much Mark! 🤗