Henry VIII orders a bible in English be placed in every church in England

Henry VIII orders a bible in English be placed in every church in England

In 1538, Henry VIII decreed that every parish church in England was required by law, to place a large bible in English for all to read.
Bibles were placed in a convenient spot in the church, to make it accessible to everyone.
To guard against theft, these bibles were securely chained.
Its creation was overseen by Henry VIII’s chief minister, Thomas Cromwell.

The first bible was printed under Henry VIII was the ‘Great Bible’, with more than 9,000 copies printed between 1538 and 1541.
The second was printed under Elizabeth I’s reign, as the ‘Bishops Bible’.
The third translation of the bible into English was the ‘King James Bible’

This particular bible pictured below, was printed in 1880, and is the King James version, in Canterbury Cathedral.
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The King James Bible, sponsored under King James I, was in print from 1611 right up to the 20th Century.

Canterbury Cathedral also has a 1572 edition of the ‘Bishops Bible,’ which is held in the Cathedral library.

⛪ Picture Credits ~ M.Tong for The Tudor Intruders.