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For the first time in 12 years, an extraordinary book is heading back to its home in North East England.

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The Lindisfarne Gospels, a 1,300-year old manuscript, will be the centrepiece of a much awaited exhibition in Durham starting in July 2013.

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But why is this book so special?

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on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Religion and Ethics website.

Gospels - Good News 2013 celebratesÌýgood news to mark the arrival of the Lindisfarne Gospels in the cathedral City of Durham.Ìý

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Joy after the arrival of a much-longed-for baby, an artist winning a commission for his work, a woman beating breast cancer and a team of former drug addicts winning their football league are amongst the stories covered.Ìý

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Gospels translates as 'good news'ÌýandÌýthe documentary is a celebration of 21st Century good news.ÌýÌý

The return of the gospels to Durham on 1 July is a key event for the North East and the aim of this documentary is to join in this celebration by telling stories which are uplifting, remarkable, gritty and inspiring.Ìý

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The stories are not always religious – but are intended as an alternative to the daily news agenda which can sometimes feel very bleak.ÌýÌý

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The Lindisfarne Gospels – usually housed in The British Library - are acknowledged as one of the best examples of creativity and craftsmanship from Medieval times. They were created by the community of St Cuthbert on Lindisfarne.

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North East actor, Chris Connel, makes a modern day pilgrimage along the gospel’s route from Lindisfarne to Durham - talking to people with stories to tell along the way.

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The stories Chris finds are up-lifting, taking us beyond the daily news agenda – which is too often dominated by the region being top ofÌýleague tables which mark out deprivation or disadvantage.Ìý

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TheÌýstories are an antidote to that reputation,Ìýcelebrating the human spirit, optimism and resilience.Ìý

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The Gospels will be in Durham from July until September in Durham University's Palace Green Library.

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The 1,300-year-old manuscript last visited the north-east of England in 2000 and the campaign to keep it in the region is as strong as ever.

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Should Durham or LondonÌýbe home toÌýthe Lindisfarne Gospels?

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on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ News website.

A respected and venerated figure in life, after his death in AD687, Cuthbert's cult flourished, reaching its heydey in the 12th Century but continuing to resonate through the medieval period and beyond.

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on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Religion and Ethics website.

The Durham Gospels is a masterpiece of early Northumbrian book-craft and illumination.

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with thisÌýpicture gallery on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Religion website.ÌýÌý

The 1,300-year-old Lindisfarne Gospels have gone on display in the north-east of England for three months.

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The major Durham University exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see them outside the British Library in London.

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on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ News website.

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A life-size sculpture of St Cuthbert has been commissioned as a major feature of the Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition at Durham University.

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British artist Tim Chalk has created a striking contemporary interpretation of St Cuthbert which will form the centrepiece of the Gospels display.

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on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ News website.

St Cuthbert was one of the most revered saints of early Christianity, but few people know he was the world's first nature conservationist.

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HeÌýintroduced the world's first bird protection laws to protect the eider ducks and other sea birds nesting on the Farne Islands.

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on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ News website.