“Only God knows the good that can come about by reading one good Catholic book.”
St. John Bosco
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 33 reviews Posted on Brothers of the Little Oratory27 November 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mark repaired a much loved but sadly worse for wear heirloom copy of the "Life of Mary" which involved some complicated page repair and resewing. He kept us fully informed throughout the process with emails and accompanying photographs. The end result is beautifully sympathetic rebinding which retains the character of the original but also gives it a new lease of life.Posted on Kathleen Delarmi14 November 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a little prayer book, almost 100 years old, whose cover had been chewed by my puppy. Mark has recovered it beautifully, it looks like new. Thanks Mark for your hard workPosted on teresa owens23 September 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The Bible looks excellent!! I have looked through it and Mark's attention to detail has made my Dad's family Bible come alive again. To leaf through it without fear of it crumbling brings back so many memories of how he read it to the family and how both Mom and Dad would give us their advice and kind words to live by, while also telling family stories of family that have passed. To have it restored by you and preserved was the best decision I ever made. My Dad's family history, written in his own handwriting, makes me feel like Dad and Mom are with me still. I will be sharing my great experience and the Bible with my siblings and children. God has truly blessed Mark's hands and your heart!! Your work, Mark, speaks volumes as I can see in my before and after photos. May you continue to be blessed.Posted on Penny Payne29 August 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mark did a wonderful repair on my very tatty Missal. He kept me up to date at every step, making suggestions,but always listening to how I wanted it to be. I can't the thank him enough, now I can treasure my Missal again.Posted on Lee Simmons19 August 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mark rebounded my Orthodox prayer book; the result is absolutely beautiful. His craftsmanship is superb – the binding is strong, elegant, and made to last. Mark guided me through the options available as I was a bit unsure what I wanted to begin with. He helped me choose the most appropriate design features, and the final result matched exactly what I hoped for. I’m delighted with the work and would highly recommend Mark to anyone looking for a truly professional, high-quality binding.Posted on Susan Carter16 July 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I was really worried about sending a 100 year old family bible away for repair but Mark put my mind at ease and it was all good. He kept me updated with how the repair was progressing by email and was very cooperative in sending the bible back at a date that suited me. Price was reasonable and I was thrilled to have the bible back and in great condition!Posted on Paul Baker12 July 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mark did a remarkable job in rebinding a much loved and much used missal. The proof is in the pictures. Thank you to an excellent craftsman.Posted on Sophie Calver13 May 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mark was very helpful from the start and I would highly recommend his work to anyone as this is a rare thing to come across someone that is able to do this type of work.Posted on Martin Rimmer15 April 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Truly professional restoration service from start to finish! Mark made an initial assessment of our two family bibles from photos and confirmed his restoration plan and quote almost immediately he received the two precious items. Updates were sent regularly during the process and the end results were spectacular. Mark really knows what he’s doing and the quality of his work is exceptional. These two bibles will last another 100 years having had such thorough and skilled restoration. 5 stars? I’d give 10 if I could! Look at all the before and after shots, seeing is believing…Posted on Christopher Angel25 March 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mark did a superb job of repairing a dilapidated Missal. It had been unusable because it was so damaged. Mark’s repair was done with such care, attention, skill and artistry that it has given the Missal another lease of life! Thank you!
On the Bench
Click on the blog posts below to see how we make and repair your books
Can my book even be repaired?
Can my book even be repaired? A look at the wide range of problems which can be fixed, and the 3 which can’t… A lot of people start their book repair journey with my by asking, “Can my book be repaired?”. Perhaps your beloved book has been in pieces for years, and you can hardly […]
How do I assess my book for repair?
How do I assess my book for repair? A 4 part method for an accurate book repair quote You’re finally
How long does a book repair take? How much does it cost?
How long does a book repair take? How much does it cost? Before you commit to having your treasured book
Douay Rheims Bible
Douay Rheims Bible repair Re-casing and re-colouring an important Counter-Reformation publication Book repair on the sewing frame Welcome back to
1941 prayer booklet repair
I dealt with mould staining, 80 year old rusty staples, and created a unique case to protect a family
1962 Altar Missal
1962 Altar Missal...for a hermit! Fr. John has been a dear friend for many years, and when he eventually retired,
St. Andrew’s Daily Missal
The St. Andrew's Daily Missal A surprisingly challenging project to replace the ribbons in this famous 1920s hand Missal, full
How buying books used to be…
...and why you deserve some old-fashioned quality in your book collection. In the Victorian era, when you bought, say, the

