Tyndale Soc's Choir Turns 40!

This Saturday, Members and Friends of The Tyndale Society are warmly invited to join our much-loved 'Christmas Choir' - The English Chamber Choir, conducted by Guy Protheroe - for a special concert in celebration of their 40th birthday.

The concert - featuring special guests Rick Wakeman and Paddy O'Connell - begins at 7.30pm on Saturday 27th October at St John's, Smith Square, London.  Tickets (at £20, £15, £10) are available via telephone on: 0207 222 1061 or online at www.sjss.org.uk

Download full event details (PDF) here.

Manifold Greatness Lecture - Now Online

Members and Friends who missed Helen Moore's 'Manifold Greatness' lecture back in April can now watch online...

The original lecture was given at the Harry Ransom Centre, Austin, Texas, on April 26th, 2012, in conjunction with the venue's celebrated KJB exhibition, which will now travel across the USA until July 2013 (see full schedule).

Moore's illustrated talk addresses the role played by Oxford in the translation of the King James Bible, the methods used by the translators, and highlights some of the items displayed at the Oxford exhibition, which attracted some 58,000 visitors.

Helen Moore is editor of Manifold Greatness: The Making of the King James Bible, and Fellow and Tutor in English at Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford.

PBS Feature on the Austin KJB Exhibition

Short PBS video feature by KLRU on the 'King James Bible: History and Influence' exhibition at the Harry Ransom Centre in Austin, Texas.

Tyndale Society Lecturer at UK Newton Festival

Long-time Tyndale Society USA member Helen Martin is to speak at the 'Gravity Fields' festival 2012 -  an eight day celebration of arts, science, and heritage, inspired by the work of Sir Isaac Newton.

Martin, an authority on the life and work of Newton in addition to her keen interest in William Tyndale, will give two lectures as part of the event - running from 21st to 28th September in Grantham, Lincolnshire.

Tyndale Society Members and friends are warmly invited to attend her talk on 'Newton and Religion' at 12.15pm on Sunday 23rd September followed by 'An Astronomer, His Friend and Their Teacher' at 12.15pm on Tuesday 25th September.

For further details, and to book tickets for these and other festival events, visit the Gravity Fields Festival website using the links above.

Tyndale Society in the US News...

Bill Cooper's authoritative TSJ review of David Teems' Tyndale: The Man Who Gave God and English Voice has this week been cited in the US press...

Breathecast's Christian Post reports "Teems recently received high praise when England's scholarly Tyndale Society reviewed his critically acclaimed biography, Tyndale: The Man Who Gave God An English Voice.

"The review, which appeared in the latest edition of The Tyndale Society Journal, extolled Teems for his original approach to William Tyndale as a man.

"'Teems concentrates not on what was important to Tyndale's peers and contemporaries, nor yet to his more modern biographers, but on what was important to William Tyndale himself,' writes reviewer Dr. William Cooper."

"Cooper praises Teems for his wise use of authoritative source material and his concise, pithy style of writing, but was most impressed with Teems' bold approach to Tyndale's spiritual side."

The original review appeared on page 64 of The Tyndale Society Journal No. 41.

Read the full article... 
 

Preview of Reformation 17 - Tribute Issue

The Tyndale Society's next scholarly title - Reformation 17 - currently in the final stages of editing - will be dedicated to the memory of Professor Patrick Collinson CBE, Regius Professor of Modern History at Cambridge University, and one of the foremost scholars of English religious history in the post-Reformation period.

Described by the Telegraph in his obituary "Collinson managed the rare achievement of having a profound impact on the debate while managing not to fall out with others working in the same area. This is because he always combined rigorous scholastic methods with academic integrity and intellectual generosity."

Articles will include a substantial number of contributions by major scholars of Reformation history and literature, among them: Peter Marshall, Andrew Hadfield, Brian Cummings and Euan Cameron.

Reformation 17 will be distributed to all Reformation Members of the Tyndale Society in October 2012, as part of their annual subscription.

If you wish to receive this publication but:

• Are not yet a member of the Tyndale Society

• Have not yet renewed your Reformation subscription for 2012

• Wish to upgrade your current subscription to include Reformation

Then please email the Tyndale Society this week, with your request, so that we can ensure  you are included in our print run and our distribution list.

Mantel's 'Wolf Hall' to be TV Mini-Series

The BBC has announced production of a new six part adaptation of Hilary Mantel's Booker prize-winning novel - Wolf Hall.

Set in England in the 1520s, the story centres around the life of Thomas Cromwell, who rose from humble beginnings - as the son of a brutal blacksmith - to become  Henry VIII's chief minister.

The series will show a nation on the brink of disaster and civil war, and a Court filled with betrayals, alliances, affairs and scheming.

Although not directly featured himself as a character, the novel is permeated throughout by the influence and repercussions of William Tyndale's Bible translation.

Read More...

A Tweet from our Chairman

As some of our Members and Friends may already know, our intrepid Chairman, Mary Clow broke her leg very badly over the summer, whilst holidaying in Greece.  

She has spent the past two months grounded - immobilised in a wheelchair - with the offending limb outstretched and fully encased in plaster.

However, we're pleased to report that Mary's UK medics have now decreed the cast can come off next week - allowing her once more to reach her desk!

Our thoughts are with her for a speedy recovery down in Gloucestershire, as - like Kevin the Kestrel pictured here - she regains her strength, re-learns to walk, and takes to the airways once again!

Tyndale Society USA Seminar 'Let Him Alone!'

Members and Friends of The Tyndale Society are warmly invited to register for our next Seminar event, to be held on September 8th, in Pennsylvania, USA.

Entitled 'Let Him Alone!' the event will focus around the theme of religious persecution after 'The Great Ejection' of 1662.

Keynote Speakers will include historians Dr. Carl Trueman and Barbara Cross and Judge Thomas Martin.

On exhibition during the event - from the personal collection of Mr Charles Payette -  will be a unique folio copy of the Book of Common Prayer of 1662,prepared for the Archbishop of Canterbury.  This very rare book was the standard to which all university professors and English clergy were to conform.

The Seminar event will run from 9am until 1pm on Saturday September 8th at London Grove Friends Meeting House, 500 W. Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348.

To book your place at this event, or to find out more details, email our US Secretary, Miss Helen Martin.  (Suggested voluntary contribution of $10).

Meet author of Tyndale play this coming weekend

This weekend, Members and Friends of The Tyndale Society have two opportunities to meet playwright David Edgar, author of the critically acclaimed 'Written on the Heart'.

The first - open to full Members only - is on Friday 25th May in Oxford, when Edgar will give a lecture on the genesis of his RSC production, and the making of the King James Bible, at Hertford College, Catte Street.  The event will begin at 5.30pm with drinks in the Old Lodgings Dining Room, followed at 6pm with the lecture and then dinner at 7pm.  If you wish to attend this event, please email Mrs Jill Symons, PA to the Principal at Hertford, as soon as possible, so that she can add you to the guest list.

The second - open to both Members and Friends, is on Saturday 26th May, when David Edgar will address the Tyndale Society in Notting Hill, London.  The event will commence at 5.30pm at 17 Powis Terrace, W11.  For further details or to confirm your attendance, please email Mary Clow.

See 'Written on the Heart' for only £14!

For anyone who has not yet seen David Edgar's highly praised play about William Tyndale, there are only four more days left to catch the production, before the show's London run ends. 

For the last few days, all seats - including top priced tickets usually £47.50 - are on sale for just £13.50.

To access this deal, visit Theatre Tickets UK or telephone 0207 492 1532/1606.

The play will run at the Duchess Theatre, Covent Garden until Saturday May 19th only.

TSJ Reviewer David Surtees has said of the production: "David Edgar’s research has been meticulous and the history comes over well and is engrossing. There are plenty of references to Tyndale’s collaborators and the period that will have Tyndalians buzzing in their seats."

Read more, view a documentary about the play and see our full review of this production HERE.

_____________________________________

Rated 4-Star by Whatsonstage.com, The Sunday Times, The Independent, The Guardian, The Daily Mail and The Times.

Nones at Merton Priory Sun 29th April

At least two thirds of the King James Version is William Tyndale.

On Sunday 29th April at 3pm in more than 60 churches and abbeys across the UK, the King James Version will be read within the Office of Nones.

Nones would have been said in every monastery, priory or nunnery every day and this rich heritage is being remembered then.

For more information about this exciting project please email: friendsofmertpri@aol.com.

TSJ41 Out Now Online!

What a fantastic year it has been for William Tyndale and for The Tyndale Society! The 1611 King James Bible anniversary celebrations provided a wonderful platform for our Members and Friends to spread the word about Tyndale's life, works and far-reaching influence.

No more the forgotten hero of the Bible in English - Tyndale has reached back into our lives through press coverage, feature films, exhibitions, TV series, stage plays, books and even postage stamps!

In celebration of the enormous strides made in boosting public awareness of William Tyndale, and to promote knowledge of the vast array of activities in which our Members and Friends have played such a key part, the Tyndale Society has - for the first time - decided to publish the full text of the latest Tyndale Society Journal online.

To access TSJ41 online simply click on the player below for full-screen version.

We hope you enjoy our latest issue, and would welcome your feedback on our articles, reports, reviews and special offers.

Meanwhile, for any non-members who would like to find out about joining the Tyndale Society you can register for our mailing list here and view our FAQs and membership application forms on page 84-86 of the Journal.

Open publication -

Free Ticket Offer for 'Anne Boleyn' Birmingham

The Tyndale Society is delighted to be able to announce a free theatre ticket offer to our Members and Friends based in the Midlands.

'Anne Boleyn' by Howard Brenton is a celebration of a great English heroine, who helped change the course of a nation's history.

Traditionally seen as either the pawn of an ambitious family or as a predator manipulating her way to power, Anne - and her ghost - are seen in a very different light in this epic play - in which another major character is William Tyndale.

Commissioned specially for Shakespeare's Globe in London, 'Anne Boleyn' is now on tour around Britain with English Touring Theatre.

The play - featuring Tim Frances as William Tyndale - will run at the New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham from now until Saturday 24th March.

To apply for free tickets - available strictly on a first-come-first-served basis, for collection at the theatre box office - contact Rich Mason, Production Assistant at English Touring Theatre on 0207 450 1982 or email him here.

Bible Survival Story - Vatican's new Blockbuster Exhibit

Today "Verbum Domini" - a major new exhibit of the world's rarest bibles and recordings of scripture opens at the Vatican.

Telling a remarkable story of survival, the show includes poignant examples of the lengths people would go to stay close to God's word.

As well as a near complete copy of William Tyndale's New Testament, there is a scroll which survived the Spanish inquisition and - in a small glass cabinet - two paper cut outs in the shape of shoes with portions of the Old Testament written onto them which were hidden inside shoes to prevent Nazi officials from finding them.

Around two-thirds of the collection comes from the Green Collection of 40,000 Scriptural artifacts belonging to the family of American retail giant Steve Green.

Green, the President of Hobby Lobby and a committed Christian, said he wanted to make the Bible "accessible to everyone".

He said he hoped the exhibition would give people the chance to "experience the Bible's dramatic history" and the "perseverance" of those who recorded it down the centuries.

Boleyn goes Walkabout in Jubilee Year

For Members and Friends who may have missed Howard Brenton's excellent 'Anne Boleyn' - featuring the character of William Tyndale - at The Globe, all is not lost...

From 15th March, The Globe - in conjunction with English Touring Theatre - is embarking on a nine week tour, to take the multi-award-winning play to the provinces.

To find out more, and view the full tour schedule - which takes in Cambridge, Birmingham, Blackpool, Brighton, Cornwall, Darlington, Malvern, Bath and Edinburgh - visit the ETT site.

Tyndale Rolls out the Red Carpet at BAFTA

This weekend, film maker and Director Mervyn Weir invites Members and friends of The Tyndale Society to attend the UK premier of his new film 'Fired Up'.

The new film follows the interweaving stories of King Henry VIII and William Tyndale 'The Match that lit the fuse to the King James Bible' .

To add your name to the guest list, (required for BAFTA security purposes), simply RSVP to Mervyn in advance of the event at info@crossculturemedia.net.

The BAFTA members' bar will be open from 4pm on Sunday 18th December, with the screening starting at 5pm at BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LN.

Tyndale Carol Service - 14th December - London

This year's Tyndale Society Service of Lessons & Carols will take place at St. Mary Abchurch in the City of London, at 12:30pm on Wednesday 14th December.

As usual, The English Chamber Choir will feature in this beautiful Wren setting, and there will be refreshments and mince pies after the service.

We do hope that as many Members and Friends as possible will attend, as this event is always such a wonderful highlight in our annual calendar.

NOTE: If you are planning on coming along this year, please click here to email the Society, to give an idea of numbers for catering purposes.

Tyndale's possible birthplace up for sale

William Tyndale's possible birthplace - the 40 acre Medieval Manor Melksham Court, Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire is up for sale...

The Cotswold estate - bought for £2m back in 2003 by actor Hugh Grant - is a Grade II listed Manor House circa 16th/17th century.

Dating back to 1360, the site was the former home of the Tyndale family - from the early 15th Century - and then the Morse family until early in the 20th Century.

In more recent times the property was in the ownership the former Conservative education minister, the late Sir Keith Joseph, and property tycoon and hotelier Sir Maxwell Joseph.

The current building dates back to circa 1600, but it was later partly rebuilt after being burned by Royalists in the Civil War.

Offers in the region of £3m are invited from Estate Agents Smiths Gore...

Tyndale's Happy Christmas in the Caymans

This Christmas, Bible translator William Tyndale gets set to spread glad tidings in the Cayman Islands as part of a brand new set of special postage stamps.

The new issue, released by the Cayman Islands Postal Service, commemorates the 400th Anniversary of the printing of the King James Bible.

The special five stamp set features a portrait of Tyndale, 'father of the English Bible,' as well as images of the KJB, King James I, the 1611 translators and the printers of the KJB.

For non-Cayman Islands dwellers, the special KJB and Tyndale stamps are available for online purchase by overseas collectors. However - be warned - the new stamp issue does not yet feature on the CIPS's website (watch this space for more details!)

Tyndale - on ipad..!

As part of their 'Treasures' series, The British Library have now published three more titles on ipad - including their celebrated illustrated edition of William Tyndale's 1526 translation of The New Testament.

Only three copies of William Tyndale’s English translation of the New Testament printed in Worms in 1526 are known to survive.

The British Library's copy was clearly once a treasured possession, for - unlike the two others - it has been beautifully illuminated.

It is a rare and precious survival of a text which was once revolutionary, because it allowed everyone to read the Scriptures for themselves.

This remarkable little book paved the way for the King James Bible of 1611 which transformed the world’s understanding of scripture.

The new eBook version contains the whole 700 pages of the New Testament, including a list of printers' errors.

To learn more about this novel edition, visit the British Library's iBookstore

KJV Tyndale Event - USA - 18th Nov - Pullman

Tyndale fans based near Pullman USA will tomorrow evening be treated to a two-part symposium focusing on the build-up to and publication of the King James Bible.

First up at 7pm will be a presentation from movie-maker and Tyndale Society Journal contributor Martin Andersen (see TSJ No.39 'Tyndale goes to the Movies') - on William Tyndale and the history of the English Bible.

This will be followed by a talk onthe KJV itself by Professor Fred E. Woods of Brigham Young University - historical consultant on the recent production of US Tyndale docu-drama series 'Fires of Faith'.

All are welcome at the symposium venue: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1055 NE Orchard Drive, Pullman, Washington, 99163 (across from Beasley Coliseum).

Guardian Critic Praises new Tyndale Play...

Guardian Theatre Critic Michael Billington gives high praise for Tyndale in David Edgar's new production 'Written on the Heart' at The Swan, Stratford-upon-Avon.

"No one could accuse the British theatre of ignoring the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. And David Edgar has come up with a learned, information-packed and engrossing play that sees the Authorised Version in its historical context. Like Howard Brenton in Anne Boleyn, Edgar also finds a hero in the outlawed William Tyndale, whose mission was to translate the scriptures into a readily understandable vernacular."

"Edgar's larger purpose is to demystify the King James Bible: to prove that it was both a product of its time and a composite of previous translations... Tyndale is a radical appalled to find a church that still relies on chalices and altar rails, and a new version of the Bible that sacrifices meaning to music. You don't have to be a scholar to follow the argument, since Edgar gives us plenty of textual evidence and, even if his play requires an interest in history, it exposes the divisions that today still rend the Anglican church."

"Stephen Boxer captures all the fire and anger of the pathfinding Tyndale."

There is still plenty of time to catch the play for those who haven't seen it yet, as the production runs until 10th March 2012. For booking details click here.

To read the full review on the Guardian's website click here.

Unique Tyndale Text in Edinburgh Exhibition

From now until 8th January 2012, Tyndale Society Members and Friends can view the only known example of the 1537 edition of Tyndale's translation of The Book of Jonah at the National Library of Scotland.

Entitled 'The Prophet Jonas with an introduccion before teachinge to vnderstande him', this unique copy is believed to have been printed in London. [NLS shelfmark: H.26.g.8.a(5)]

This special exhibit forms part of the Library's latest 'Treasures' display : "The Bible in English - John Wyclif to King James VI".

To find out more about the other rare Bible editions on display in the exhibition, click here.

Fires of Faith Episode 3 - Tyndale's Legacy

For Members and Friends who have been following the three-part Fires of Faith documentary series, Episode 3 - covering the legacy of Tyndale's work - is now available to view online.

This concluding part covers the role of Tyndale's work in the genesis of the King James Bible, including:

The impact of King Henry VIII's 'Great Bible'
Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer
Calvin and the Genesis of the Geneva bible - 'a Bible that was meant to be studied' but which encouraged readers to stand up for their beliefs against Church and State.
Bloody Mary's burning of the Geneva Bible and the purge of Protestant heretics and the return to Catholicism.
Queen Elizabeth's 'Bishop's Bible' and the reversion to Protestantism
King James and the pacification of the Puritans - who called for a new translation of the Bible.

Notable quotes from this episode include:

"(Tyndale) gave the translators a model of paying very close attention the the literal meaning of the original text and he also established a level of language for the translation. He looked for it to be a language that would be understood as easily as possible by what he called 'the boy that drives the plough' - what we would call the man in the street. He was a brilliant writer, so if one is looking for a genius behind the King James, he is the genius." David Norton

"A major contribution of Tyndale is to make the Bible sound English." Susannah Monta, Professor of English, University of Notre Dame

"Tyndale's language has become the special language of religion. It goes on existing as a special way of speaking that we use when we want to speak to God or make prayers." David Norton

"William Tyndale translated the Bible passionately believing in the project, even to the point of death. He was asked to and he did invest his whole self. Almost as in any beautiful piece of artwork, the soul of the person is somehow showing through. It has been forged in self-gift and self sacrifice. In Tyndale's case it was readiness for self-sacrifice to the point of death. That's what makes the Bible sing. That's what makes the King James sing - it's that they let Tyndale speak." John C. Cavadini, University of Notre Dame "His soul is in the translation."

To access the full episode online click HERE or on the above image (our apologies for the slightly annoying ad at the beginning but this is quickly over).

Note: for those who enjoy a visual spectacle, watch out for the 'guerilla choir' shopping mall scene 36 minutes in (particularly the 'Caution Wet Floor' man).