Located in the Parish House

Our parish is blessed with The Hennage Library, a small (over 1,700 items) but carefully chosen collection of materials of special interest to our parishioners. The mission of the library is to provide books and other media that serve and support the various ministries, organizations, programs, and staff of our parish.

The library is located in the lower level of the Parish House and is open from 8am to 4pm on Fridays and on other weekdays whenever meetings are not scheduled there. Check the Calendar for availability or call the Parish House (757-229-2891). 

The library’s catalog is available online HERE.

To find a book in the catalog, simply enter the author, title, or subject term into the search box. For more specific searches, an advanced search option is available by clicking the down arrow to the right of the search box. You may also easily browse by subject by clicking on search categories under the search box (note the link to a list of all subjects). If you have any questions, feel free to contact a Library Committee member at library@brutonparish.org.

Books are arranged on the shelves by call number, based on the Dewey Decimal Classification System. Recent additions are often found on the New Books shelves.

There is also a Special Collection of rare books that, while they may not be checked out, may be read in the comfort and quiet of the library. To access any of these resources, please send us an email to coordinate with a member of the library committee.

How to use the Library

• Reference Books (with call numbers beginning with R) and books in the Special Collection (with call numbers beginning with A) are to be used only in the library.
• All borrowed books are to be signed out in the Sign Out Register found in the library. 
• When books are returned, the register should again be used to sign the items back in, and the books placed in the return bin inside the library.
• Books may be borrowed for a period of 30 days.

We thank you for helping us take care of this wonderful resource so that all may enjoy it.

Recent Acquisitions can be found here.

Hennage Library Resources for Bruton Guides

An annotated bibliography of books of special interest to Bruton guides can be found here.

Adopt A Book

If you would like to remember or honor a family member or friend, consider the Adopt-A-Book program to donate a book to Bruton Parish’s Hennage Library. Some Bruton committees recognize the contributions of retiring committee chairs in this way. You may suggest a suitable book. As with any book donated to the library, it will be reviewed by the committee for consideration. If preferred, you can describe the individual you wish to honor and the Library Committee will seek a suitable book and review the choice with you. The Library Committee will purchase the book at the best available price and let you know the cost. A check can be written to Bruton Parish Episcopal Church and given to the comptroller with a notation of its purpose. The committee will add a nameplate indicating the person being honored and the donating person or group, if desired. The book is then catalogued and placed on the new acquisitions shelves in the library for parishioners’ enjoyment and education.  Please send an email to library@brutonparish.org to let us know of your interest.

Guild of Bruton Authors

The James C. Livingston Guild of Bruton Authors was established in 2012 to honor the legacy of James C. Livingston, late professor of religion at The College of William and Mary and a widely-respected author. Bruton parishioners who have authored one or more published books may be elected to the Guild by the Library Committee, and there are now over 40 members. Each year the Committee invites nominations, with a November 1 deadline, and new members are announced at the end of the year. The nomination form is available online (click HERE to access the form) and may be sent to the Library Committee at authorsguild@brutonparish.org or placed in the Library Committee box in the Parish House.