“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 26 reviews 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. 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… 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! Billy-Jo Simpson17 November 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent restoration by Mark. I was bequeathed a Liber Usualis by the late Fr. John Johnson of St. Mary’s Wigan which was in a poor state of repair. Mark absolutely turned it around for me in no time and now I used this gorgeous piece of history every day in my private and public prayer. Thank you Mark for your ministry - would highly recommend to those who want an affordable way to restore your old treasures. Thankyou john galloway6 October 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am pleased to give My Catholic Library 5 Stars. This is because of my extreme satisfaction with the work that has been done by My Catholic Library following the repair, where necessary, and sympathetic refurbishment of my 100+ year old Family Bible. While it was being repaired, I was kept fully informed as to the work being done with regular emailed reports and photographs. These reports advised that My Catholic Library were employing techniques used in the original construction of my Bible, so that its appearance continued to remain authentic for book of its age, of which future generations will be proud. I am therefore pleased with its appearance, and the time taken to achieve this, and the cost that was involved. I am also proud both, to pass it into the care of the future generations of my associated family, and with the work done by My Catholic Library to bring it upto it's present condition and appearance. Finally I would highly reccommend the employment of My Catholic Library for the repair and refurbishment of Books of the age of my Family Bible. Richard Bailey10 July 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mark restored four volumes of Omnia Opera of St Bernard of Clairvaux - a nineteenth-century edition. He is a perfectionist and that is precisely what he achieves! I am about to give him several more books to 'resurrect'. Eileen Smith24 June 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mark has recently repaired my Small Missal which had been in a very poor condition. The missal had been given to me in 1954 by my brother on his wedding day when I had the pleasure of being a bridesmaid that day. I had been looking for someone to repair the Missal for years but couldn’t find anyone who provided this service - but most importantly someone that I could trust with such an important possession and heirloom. My prayers were answered when my parish priest (Fr Christopher) placed Mark’s details in the church bulletin. I am so thrilled with the end result. My Missal has been given a new life. I am so happy and thrilled at Mark’s craftsmanship and I would certainly be happy to recommend Mark. Lisa Greene19 May 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have just seen the wonderful work and restoration Mark has achieved with my late Fathers 30 year old Psalter. It is an incredible gift and talent he has ! I was so moved to be able to hold the book as my Dad used to morning and night. This will be treasured for life by our family. Thank you for the care and craftsmanship you put into this. Lisa Greene ( daughter of Marie) Marie Greene18 May 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve just received my late husband’s 30 year old Psalter from the creative hands of Mark. I can’t believe the transformation. It’s a much used and much loved prayer book but over the years had lost its ribbons and outer cover to name just a few of its battle wounds! But thanks to Mark it’s now in a beautiful leather cover and box with new ribbons. I can’t thank Mark enough for its restoration. Don’t hesitate to contact Mark if you’d like a treasured book to be given first class treatment. Just see what a poor state the prayer book was in before Mark restored it to new life on the attached photos. Incredible. Paul Grady9 May 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mark repaired an old prayerbook to an exceptional standard sympathetic to its age and original details. Would highly recommend to others for any book repair
On the Bench
Click on the blog posts below to see how we make and repair your books

Douay Rheims Bible
Re-casing and re-colouring an important Counter-Reformation publication Book repair on the sewing frame Welcome back to On The Bench, where I show you the traditional bookbinding and book repair work

1941 prayer booklet repair
I dealt with mould staining, 80 year old rusty staples, and created a unique case to protect a family heirloom, written by an intriguing priest Some of the books that

1962 altar Missal
1962 Roman Missal...for a hermit! Fr. John has been a dear friend for many years, and when he eventually retired, he decided he wanted to learn to say the Traditional

St. Andrew’s Daily Missal
A surprisingly challenging project to replace the ribbons in this famous 1920s hand Missal, full of stunning illustrations and learned commentary Sometimes, a client's 'simple request' can be fraught with

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 latest novel by Mr. Dickens, it would be posted to